In a previous press statement, we had pointed
out that a well organized campaign by the opposition designed to mislead the
public, discredit the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan, and
cause disaffection within the polity appears to be well afoot. That there is an
emerging pattern of disinformation and politics by trickery, orchestrated by
Lai Mohammed and his ilk which is unsuitable to our democratic experience is
now no longer in doubt.
out that a well organized campaign by the opposition designed to mislead the
public, discredit the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan, and
cause disaffection within the polity appears to be well afoot. That there is an
emerging pattern of disinformation and politics by trickery, orchestrated by
Lai Mohammed and his ilk which is unsuitable to our democratic experience is
now no longer in doubt.
We have been proven right, once more, with the
deliberate disinformation engaged in today by the National Publicity Secretary
of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
deliberate disinformation engaged in today by the National Publicity Secretary
of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Recall that last week, we were regaled with
the publication of a fictitious “Presidential Directive” on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,
APC and other matters which turned out to be a dubious bromide containing
nothing more than “a mishmash of carefully arranged and concocted lies,
presented to the public as evidence of a document emanating from the
presidency.”
the publication of a fictitious “Presidential Directive” on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,
APC and other matters which turned out to be a dubious bromide containing
nothing more than “a mishmash of carefully arranged and concocted lies,
presented to the public as evidence of a document emanating from the
presidency.”
A press conference in Lagos, this Thanksgiving
Sunday, addressed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed continued this pattern when he alleged
that the Federal Government was deliberately promoting policies that will
plunge the nation into crisis with the objective of scuttling the 2015 elections.
He tried to exploit real challenges confronting the nation by instilling fear
in the populace through the use of unrelated events; hoping to use such
patterns and trends to build a conspiratorial case. Like all conspiracies, the
case made fell quickly like a pack of cards when confronted with the facts.
Sunday, addressed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed continued this pattern when he alleged
that the Federal Government was deliberately promoting policies that will
plunge the nation into crisis with the objective of scuttling the 2015 elections.
He tried to exploit real challenges confronting the nation by instilling fear
in the populace through the use of unrelated events; hoping to use such
patterns and trends to build a conspiratorial case. Like all conspiracies, the
case made fell quickly like a pack of cards when confronted with the facts.
It is a fact that President Goodluck Jonathan
has presided over major elections since his assumption of office – the 2011
general elections, the 2012 state gubernatorial elections in Edo, Kogi,
Adamawa, Sokoto, Cross River and Bayelsa as well as other elections in
different parts of the country; which were all adjudged by local and
international observers as free, fair and peaceful. Indeed, President
Jonathan’s commitment to electoral reforms which is founded on the ‘one man-one
vote’ ethos underscores the administration’s belief and commitment to an
emerging political culture that is inclusive, participatory and transparent.
When juxtaposed against Lai Mohammed’s allegations, it would appear to any
discerning citizen that Alhaji Mohammed is engaged in disinformation, the likes
of which we heard ahead of the elections referenced above, thus suggesting a
well worn tactic.
has presided over major elections since his assumption of office – the 2011
general elections, the 2012 state gubernatorial elections in Edo, Kogi,
Adamawa, Sokoto, Cross River and Bayelsa as well as other elections in
different parts of the country; which were all adjudged by local and
international observers as free, fair and peaceful. Indeed, President
Jonathan’s commitment to electoral reforms which is founded on the ‘one man-one
vote’ ethos underscores the administration’s belief and commitment to an
emerging political culture that is inclusive, participatory and transparent.
When juxtaposed against Lai Mohammed’s allegations, it would appear to any
discerning citizen that Alhaji Mohammed is engaged in disinformation, the likes
of which we heard ahead of the elections referenced above, thus suggesting a
well worn tactic.
The integrity of elections is without doubt
one of the major achievements of this administration. It remains a legacy issue
for President Jonathan. Lai Mohammed’s allegations of tenure elongation,
instigation of violence, likely emergency rule, and a sinister plan that will
make free and fair elections impossible in 2015 are entirely hollow and a
figment of his imagination.
one of the major achievements of this administration. It remains a legacy issue
for President Jonathan. Lai Mohammed’s allegations of tenure elongation,
instigation of violence, likely emergency rule, and a sinister plan that will
make free and fair elections impossible in 2015 are entirely hollow and a
figment of his imagination.
More specifically and to buttress his
conspiratorial claim, the ACN spokesman alleged that the Federal Government has
awarded an oil pipeline protection contract to serve as a smokescreen to fund
activities that would create chaos in the South-West. Fact is, no such contract
was ever awarded by this administration.
conspiratorial claim, the ACN spokesman alleged that the Federal Government has
awarded an oil pipeline protection contract to serve as a smokescreen to fund
activities that would create chaos in the South-West. Fact is, no such contract
was ever awarded by this administration.
The more alarming aspect of the disingenuous
press conference was the deliberate attempt to exploit religious and ethnic
differences amongst citizens to create a state of siege and fear ahead of the
2015 elections. This was clear in the use of the national Boko Haram crisis and
the ‘terror-baiting’ of the populace. Is the ACN hatching a plot of
electoral violence through auto-suggestion?
press conference was the deliberate attempt to exploit religious and ethnic
differences amongst citizens to create a state of siege and fear ahead of the
2015 elections. This was clear in the use of the national Boko Haram crisis and
the ‘terror-baiting’ of the populace. Is the ACN hatching a plot of
electoral violence through auto-suggestion?
While it is legitimate to seek political
power, the ACN has an obligation to be responsible with facts and remain
truthful with the evidence at all times; and to engage the government of the
day constructively on issues of national importance; and not negatively.
Consistently stitching together a tissue of lies, extracted from a fantastic
imagination, with the intention to scare and mislead the public belongs to the
realm of jungle politics we are all happy to be rid of.
power, the ACN has an obligation to be responsible with facts and remain
truthful with the evidence at all times; and to engage the government of the
day constructively on issues of national importance; and not negatively.
Consistently stitching together a tissue of lies, extracted from a fantastic
imagination, with the intention to scare and mislead the public belongs to the
realm of jungle politics we are all happy to be rid of.
We urge the public to pay careful attention to
the tactics of those who believe that by crying wolf where none exists, they
can create doubt about the efforts of the Jonathan administration. These
allegations are blatantly false and grossly misleading.
the tactics of those who believe that by crying wolf where none exists, they
can create doubt about the efforts of the Jonathan administration. These
allegations are blatantly false and grossly misleading.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser (Media
and Publicity) to the President
and Publicity) to the President
April 07, 2013
