Presidency Scorns Business Day Newspaper For Publishing Falsehood Against Buhari’s Govt

The Presidency has wondered why a publication of the status of Business Day newspaper would embark on publishing falsehood against President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and doing so with full shoddiness to possibly create a particular perception.
In a statement today, Saturday, reacting to two-page write up in the Business Day newspaper, detailing how 80 out of the 100 appointments Buhari’s government has so far made are from the Northern part of the country, the Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, drew attention to how, in a haste to villify the government, the author of the falsehood named the Director-General of NISER, as Haruna Yerima, whereas the DG, is actually Folarin Gbadebo-Smith.
“Again, the author wrongly identified the CEO, NDLEA as Muhammad Abdallah. However, Mrs. Roli Bode-George is the CEO, NDLEA.
“The article also wrongly named Tunde Irukera as Executive Secretary of CPP,-whatever that is- instead of Consumer Protection Council (CPC). Rather conveniently, the publication ignored mentioning that Mr Emeka Nwankpa is chairman of CPC. Not only that, the writer claimed that the Director-General of the Budget Office is Aliyu Gusau, whereas Mr. Ben Akabueze is the actual DG, Budget Office.
“Besides, the publication made not just one, but several errors on names and positions, in what could be seen as a deliberate attempt to mislead the reading public, along the lines of some intended distortions of the truth.
“For example, there are several other appointments the publication failed to mention, which clearly shows the fair geopolitical spread of President Buhari’s appointees. For instance, the publication didn’t mention Sharon Ikeazor, Director-General, PTAD, who is from Anambra, South East; Folorunsho Coker, DG, NTDC; who is from Lagos, South West; Ituah Ighodalo, of the National Council of Privatisation, who is from the South South; Eze Duru Ihioma, Chairman, NPC, who is from Imo, South East, among many others.
“There are at least 50 names of the President’s appointees that the article didn’t mention that are not from the North, while there are some others that were already in place before the administration came in but reconfirmed by the Buhari administration.”
Femi Adesina said there are several names of board members/appointees from other parts of the country which the newspaper deliberately left out. “These include Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, NCC Chairman, Sunday Dare, NCC Executive Commissioner, Jide Zeitlin, NSIA Chairman, Anthony Ayine, Auditor General of the Federation, Anibor Kragha, COO NNPC, Chiedu Ugbo, MD NDPHC, Uche Orji, CEO NSIA, Osita Okechukwu, DG VON, Yemi Kale, DG NBS and Waziri Adio, Executive Secretary NEITI, among several others.”
The Presidential spokesman, attached a graph to show the breakdown of current Federal Government agency appointments per state, reflecting the true picture of the spread.
He said that the newspaper’s inconsistencies and selective reportage are questionable, describing it as divisive, adding that what Nigerians need now are unity and constructive dialogue that would help the nation march forward on the right path.
Femi Adesina stressed that it is false for anyone to say that President Buhari’s appointments are lopsided, saying that from all records, majority of the President’s appointees across different portfolios are not from the North, as the publication erroneously alleged.
“If the publication did not have ulterior motives, a simple enquiry from official sources in the Presidency would have prevented this unwarranted public disinformation.
“It must be stated clearly that, despite the distractions and biased reportage of this article, President Muhammadu Buhari remains committed to serving all Nigerians, no matter the tribe, ethnicity or region, and he is also determined to ensure that Nigeria remains strong and united. He has, and will continue to keep faith with one Nigeria and has shown this with the administration’s diverse projects in different parts of the country’s geopolitical zones.” [myad]