FROM LEFT: NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S, PROF. ADEBOWALE ADEFUYE; NIGERIAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, PROF. JOY OGWU; MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, PROF. VIOLA ONWULIRI, WELCOMING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND THE WIFE, DAME PATIENCE AT JOHN F KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR THE 68TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK ON SUNDAY
The presidency has refuted reports circulating online that President
Goodluck Jonathan travelled with a 600-man delegation on Sunday to the
68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New
York as false and accused the originator of the report of continuing in
its “scurrilous and baseless” attacks on the present administration.
The presidency while expressing regrets at the reports which it
described as the “usual fare of mischief, outright falsehood and
erroneous speculation”, affirmed that there “is absolutely no truth in
the allegation”.
A statement issued yesterday and signed by the president’s Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, recalled that the
latest publication is a rehash of previous lies which has been reported
annually against Mr. Jonathan whenever he leads Nigeria’s delegation to
the UNGA.
“The truth is that less than 30 persons arrived in New York with the
President this morning as members of his entourage. Other than them, the
only other persons who are in New York for the UN General Assembly with
the President’s knowledge and approval are relevant ministers and few
essential aides”, Abati stated.
He explained further that “President Jonathan’s official delegation
is definitely not out of proportion with Nigeria’s size, role and
relevance in Africa and the global community”, even as he noted that the
claim by the online news medium “that the President’s delegation is the
largest at this year’s General Assembly is an unjustifiable fabrication
which can never stand any rigorous test of truthfulness.”
The presidential spokesman added that “We are certainly aware that
many Nigerian citizens are currently on visits to New York. These
persons are here for their own purposes and neither President Jonathan
nor his administration has any responsibility for the presence of these
persons in New York.”
He concluded that these persons, “who include Nigerian businessmen
who are here for an African Business Roundtable event, members of
non-governmental organizations and tourists” could have been counted as
members of the “Nigerian delegation” by the online news medium “for the
sole purpose of mischief-making”.
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