The Presidency Friday described as “irresponsible, false and mischievous”, Jigawa state Governor Sule Lamido’s claim that President Goodluck Jonathan refused to act on information that a serving minister recently collected a bribe to the tune of $250 million from an oil company.
Reacting to a Radio interview granted by Governor Lamido during which the weighty allegation was said to have been made, the Presidency described it as “bogus” and a deliberate attempt to cast aspersion on the effort of the present administration’s effort at fighting corruption to a standstill.
Presidential Media Adviser, Dr Reuben Abati, said Jigawa Governor should name the minister involved in the bribery saga forthwith or be ready to apologize to President Jonathan and the entire Nigerians for maligning the President and the Federal Government.
Abati stated, “We have noted with much regret, the grossly irresponsible, false and mischievous claim by the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido that President Goodluck Jonathan has refused to act on information that a serving minister recently collected a bribe of $250 million from an oil company.
“The Presidency views the patently bogus allegation reportedly made by the Governor in a radio interview yesterday as an unacceptable and callous attempt to unjustly impugn the integrity of President Jonathan and cast aspersions on the seriousness of his Administration’s efforts to curb corruption.
“The allegation and the claim by Alhaji Lamido that he informed President Jonathan of the acceptance of the huge bribe by an unnamed minister is absolutely without any foundation in fact or reality because no such communication has ever taken place between them.
“We abhor Governor Lamido’s descent to the unscrupulous, reckless and thoughtless peddling of arrant falsehood in a puerile effort to score cheap political points against President Jonathan for personal and sectional political gains.
“If, as he claims, Alhaji Lamido has credible information about a minister receiving the said amount as bribe, he should publicly name the minister involved without delay and provide evidence to support his allegation.
“In the event that he is unable to do so, he should be prepared to offer an unreserved apology to the President and Nigerians for his unwarranted and unjust effort to denigrate, disparage and malign the President and the Federal Government.
“While the Jonathan Presidency will continue to make corrupt public officials answerable for their actions, it will not succumb to harassment and blackmail by self-seeking politicians jostling for personal advantage”.
