Dear Omoyele Sowore,
RE: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU Summit
I observe that you have made no effort, following my earlier explanations, to amend your story titled “Culture of Waste And Insensitivity Continues As Mrs. Jonathan Arrives Addis Ababa With 32 Aides” (Sahara Reporters), and have allowed your readers to rely on deliberate misinformation. The story in question does not reflect the true state of affairs with regard to the President's delegation to the 18th annual African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I therefore want to set the records straight by making the following observations:
1. There is only one Nigerian Delegation to this summit not two as your report suggests. Specifically, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has no delegation, official or unofficial, to this summit, and she did not arrive in Addis Ababa with “32 aides.”
2. You correctly reported that Mr. President travelled with a “25-person delegation to Addis Ababa for the 18th African Union Summit” but after salting your story with a dash of hype and peppering it with innuendo you have managed to cook up the impression that there are 57 Nigerian delegates in Addis Ababa. This is not fair.
3. The Nigerian Entourage list contains 35 names in total, however three of those whose names are listed did not join the delegation and the total number of delegates in Addis Ababa is not more than 32. This includes two Senators (the Chair of the Senate committee on NEPAD and another member), a member of the House of Representatives (NEPAD House of Reps), essential aides of the First couple, and Foreign Ministry Officials. Mr. President meant every word of it when he said that only persons who have work to do will be allowed to travel, officially.
4. As you well know, Nigeria is a free country; President Jonathan cannot prevent Nigerians from travelling to Ethiopia or anywhere else without good reason, legal sanction or authority. If there are other Nigerians in Addis Ababa, they are certainly not official delegates, and they have nothing to do with the First Lady.
5. It has become Sahara Reporters’ favourite sport to taint and bait President Jonathan with hooks and details that are inconvenient with the truth. You do your readers and Nigeria no favours by this shrill and deliberate misrepresentation of information.
6. President Jonathan remains committed to the Constitution he swore to protect and defend. You have a responsibility to report the truth.
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
January 29, 2012
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Comments Page: 1 2  posted on 01-27-2012, 16:15:11 PM N.A.R. Re: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesWhat a man can do a woman can do...better...larger...  posted on 01-27-2012, 16:47:36 PM NoLongThingRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesGod punish these f0ols - so much for fuel subsidy removal. posted on 01-27-2012, 22:42:04 PM SugarbabeRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesThieving duo... posted on 01-27-2012, 22:46:44 PM ShinycoinRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesNa dividend of democrazy....lol posted on 01-28-2012, 08:30:48 AM KemetRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesQUOTE:
Te he he   But una no gree make dem remove am na! So dem no also gree to reduce waste na. Una leave leprosy dey treat ringworm posted on 01-28-2012, 08:49:07 AM BeamRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesDoes the first Lady always have to accompany their husbands abroad I am sure this does not always happen in the UK or USA. What is she going over there to do? I am finding it hard to keep up with her the last time I heard she went out of Nigeria for a medical check up Now she is back and on a trip with 32 aides!!  Beam back in read only mode  posted on 01-28-2012, 09:15:56 AM ShylockRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesHow we go take know say na she bi the talk of the de town if her lackeys no follow am. You know say when dem comotu for Nigeria, fowl go begin blow feathers comot nyash. Power will be deflated. So the only way to show some of that monkey power is to surround yourself with minions, to remind you say na you bi baba where you de come from. Talk true. You think say Sowore go bold enter ordinary minister's meeting go disrupt am without MOPOLS wiping the hide out of him. posted on 01-28-2012, 12:28:22 PM AnonimiRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesQUOTE:
I thought this one is from Labour Party like Ovation master Dele Momodu with all dem pseudo-progressive noise. Why the man nor reject to be part of teh jamboree trip. And I am sure im sef go carry im own delegation follow body go Abuja first before some go join am for presidential jet go for Adiss! Abi na by force to follow fisherman Joe and crayfish seller Patty go anywhere in this Federal Republic of Nigeria 
...to celebrate the opening of a building for the African Union solely financed, designed and built by the CHINESE!!! 
Obviously, a lazy person who is keen to celebrate at the least opportunity (rather than reflect & continue to sacrifice for even greater individual & societal success) while almost ONLY praying & fasting for her provisions, "breakthrough", "divine intervention" and "blessings" will undoubtedly find herself at the mercy of her neighbours, including her "enemies" for her wants (as opposed to her needs). QUOTE:
posted on 01-28-2012, 12:38:47 PM AgenshekuRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesQUOTE:
posted on 01-28-2012, 12:54:34 PM First-ladyRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesQUOTE:
Stay there and be speaking English People are getting paid in hard currency This trip alone is enough to finish one mansion in Abuja and lay foundation for another posted on 01-29-2012, 01:31:57 AM State HouseRE: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU SummiDear Omoyele Sowore, RE: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU Summit I observe that you have made no effort, following my earlier explanations, to amend your story titled “Culture of Waste And Insensitivity Continues As Mrs. Jonathan Arrives Addis Ababa With 32 Aides” (Sahara Reporters), and have allowed your readers to rely on deliberate misinformation. The story in question does not reflect the true state of affairs with regard to the President's delegation to the 18th annual African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I therefore want to set the records straight by making the following observations: 1. There is only one Nigerian Delegation to this summit not two as your report suggests. Specifically, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has no delegation, official or unofficial, to this summit, and she did not arrive in Addis Ababa with “32 aides.”2. You correctly reported that Mr. President travelled with a “25-person delegation to Addis Ababa for the 18th African Union Summit” but after salting your story with a dash of hype and peppering it with innuendo you have managed to cook up the impression that there are 57 Nigerian delegates in Addis Ababa. This is not fair. 3. The Nigerian Entourage list contains 35 names in total, however three of those whose names are listed did not join the delegation and the total number of delegates in Addis Ababa is not more than 32. This includes two Senators (the Chair of the Senate committee on NEPAD and another member), a member of the House of Representatives (NEPAD House of Reps), essential aides of the First couple, and Foreign Ministry Officials. Mr. President meant every word of it when he said that only persons who have work to do will be allowed to travel, officially. 4. As you well know, Nigeria is a free country; President Jonathan cannot prevent Nigerians from travelling to Ethiopia or anywhere else without good reason, legal sanction or authority. If there are other Nigerians in Addis Ababa, they are certainly not official delegates, and they have nothing to do with the First Lady. 5. It has become Sahara Reporters’ favourite sport to taint and bait President Jonathan with hooks and details that are inconvenient with the truth. You do your readers and Nigeria no favours by this shrill and deliberate misrepresentation of information. 6. President Jonathan remains committed to the Constitution he swore to protect and defend. You have a responsibility to report the truth. Reuben Abati Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) January 29, 2012 Read full article posted on 01-29-2012, 02:10:38 AM IgboamaezeRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU Summi---- Who do you believe: SR or RA...? posted on 01-29-2012, 04:02:31 AM DebbelRe: RE: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity”32 representing 150 million isn't that Bad!!
Can ABATI clear the murky on how much is voted for the these extravagant executive entourage? posted on 01-29-2012, 05:18:05 AM DatuouwadaberechiRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU Summii certainly DO NOT believe ABATI on this matter. but we r getting to see just how indolent and idle he is when all he does is recycling his lies in defence. i seriously doubt that debbel will be getting a response to d ques about the amount voted for the trip. nor would we get an idea about the definition of "essential staff". mtschewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww posted on 01-29-2012, 07:08:01 AM PatchoRe: RE: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity”Accepted that SR engages in intellectual thugggery, Is time GEJ learn to carry his own file when overseas. Good enough, he's young. 4 to 7 staff/officials should have been enough for this trip. posted on 01-29-2012, 07:21:01 AM IgboamaezeRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity”QUOTE:
---- When Patcho begins to see anything wrong with GEJ, it is a red flag to be watched. Earlier today, I noticed a guy whose car bore a customized GEJ number plate up till 31st December, 2011 has replaced the number with a convential one! I wish GEJ reclaims his popularity... posted on 01-29-2012, 07:34:27 AM ShylockRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU SummiHe is doing exactly what we sent him there to do. Let Nigeria into the precipice. If the house is not fallen, who would think of expending resources to rebuild it? None. So to keep Nigeria One in a Confederated Structure is a Task that must be Done. Let JOE continues to destroy. posted on 01-29-2012, 09:27:26 AM A n otherRe: RE: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity”Paragraph #5 is immature, unnecessary and unworthy of a public servant. posted on 01-29-2012, 09:40:05 AM IgweRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU SummiQUOTE:
REALLY? THIS IS NEWS TO YOURS SINCERELY! JONA HAS OUTDONE OBJ IN VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION WITH IMPUNITY. THE LIST IS TOO LONG THAT I WON'T BOTHER WITH ENUMERATING THEM. JONA IS RUNNING A CIVILIAN TYRANNICAL KLEPTOCRACY, AND THE ABATIS OF THIS WORLD ARE CHEERING HIM ON! What Abati is saying is that there are in effect more than 32 Nigerian 'delegates' but that some of them are not 'official' 'delegates' WHATEVER... Ka Chineke mezie okwu! posted on 01-29-2012, 09:45:21 AM ShylockRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU SummiQUOTE:
Keku ka imelo? posted on 01-29-2012, 09:51:24 AM SuperegoRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU SummiBoth sides of this tale are childish. SR will not condemn demoncrazy, but will condemn the human result of the process. Chickens can only lay eggs. Abi u done see chicken wey lay gold cup b4?  Now back to pertinent issues. posted on 01-29-2012, 10:05:32 AM YorubamanRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 AidesQUOTE:
And that is one of the reasons why you will contiue to suffer becouse you are waiting for God to come and punish them posted on 01-29-2012, 12:03:31 PM AgenshekuRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU SummiIn Reuben PhD s shoes, I probably would just say: "You people know that GEJ s executive jet should not go half empty, so we sourced willing persons to fill in the gap since we shall use the same volume of aviation fuel!" Shikena. Sowore is a bona fide Nigerian and has a right to know how his tax is being wasted.
Must 32 follow GEJ to Ethiopia? Whats the budget of the trip like...estacodes, Hotel/feeding, aircraft parking fees, etc. Not only until Megida expired did we know that the crew who followed him to Saudi s allowances and parking fees clocked up over N40million. For a country which treasury has been drained to breaking point, 32 jamboree passengers to Ethiopia is still a waste. But then. our democracy is such that nobody can query the Landlord. posted on 01-29-2012, 12:11:51 PM AuspiciousRe: First lady in Addis Ababa with 32 Aides- The question is, what is lateesha doing in Adis-Ababa and who gave her 32 aides? And is her pet-orangutang NoLongThong on the entourage by any chance? -- posted on 01-29-2012, 13:28:07 PM Uncle SamRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU SummiIt is noteworthy that here is a president who would rather refute incorrect news stories instead of employing other means.
So, that Saharareporter dude actually convinced himself that First lady had a separate 32 aides, while the President had 25? This reporter get ordinary common sense self?. Thank God Jonathan will not think like him posted on 01-29-2012, 14:06:46 PM Omoyele SoworeRE: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity”Dear Reuben Abati, I read your cleverly written letter to me regarding our latest report on President Goodluck Jonathan's junket to Ethiopia. In writing what purports to be a rejoinder, you deliberately left out details of our sms exchanges on the same issue. That omission, I suggest, was an attempt to evade the central issue raised in our report. Instead of confronting that issue – the list of delegates invited and sponsored by the Jonathan administration and his wife to Ethiopia – you chose to play a semantic game over what is a straight forward issue. I'll respond to your rejoinder pointedly. 1. You sent me a text message on Friday claiming that our report on the Ethiopia trip was false and malicious because, according to you, there was a "mix up" somewhere. I quickly responded, telling you that a truthful report could never be malicious. Thereafter, you sent another text saying you didn't mean to criticize the report, but wanted to put matters straight. You proceeded to explain that there was only "one delegation" led by the president to Addis Ababa and that the number of people on the list was far lower than we reported. I quickly requested for the list. You responded by claiming that it was in your bag at your hotel room. However, you curiously sent another text claiming you couldn't reach some people involved in getting the list as it was "past midnight" in Addis Ababa. My last text to you was a reminder that I would be waiting for your response regarding the list and size of the delegation. That response never came; instead, you released this letter that pretends to be a refutation, but is rather an attempt at obfuscation. 2. You claimed that there was a single list of delegates to Ethiopia. That claim amounts to a puerile effort to conceal the fact that Mrs. Patience Jonathan was attending a program of African First Ladies which was different from the AU summit being attended by President Jonathan. This meant that the "First Lady" was traveling with a retinue of staff, associates and hangers-on to aid or support her “official” activities at a separate event from that of President Jonathan. 3. As the president’s chief spokesman, you ought to have the delegate list. I challenge you then to provide the public with a breakdown of Mr. Jonathan's "one delegation entourage" to Addis Ababa, categorized in order of designation of officials, their date of travel, mode of travel, and explanation of whether they were part of the advance party or arrived in Addis Ababa in the same aircraft as the President – or in an extra aircraft that was deployed. 4. From your letter, it is clear that you concede that some "Nigerians" may have traveled with the delegation "unofficially." Does this technical admission not defeat your initial insistence that there was only "one delegation"? 5. SaharaReporters has a history of documenting the culture of waste occasioned by the profligate junkets by the Presidency. We are glad that your principal appears to have realized that wasteful trips need to be eliminated and the size of delegations cut – especially after the president’s scandalous outing in Perth, Australia where an out-of-control delegation engaged in waste, corruption and even broke Australian laws. 6. We maintain that “First Lady” Patience Jonathan traveled with a retinue of aides, friends and associates to the tune of 32 people. Their travels and accommodation were arranged and paid for by the Nigerian government. What you owe the public is an obligation to be transparent. In this event, that entails releasing your official delegates’ list as well as names of associates, contractors, friends and "other Nigerians" the government gave a nod to visit along with the president and his wife on this trip to Addis Ababa. In other words, we await the release of that list that you claimed was in your bag in the hotel room in Addis Ababa. Thank you Sincerely, Omoyele Sowore Read full article posted on 01-29-2012, 14:41:01 PM AwesomeO2Re: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity”Our Own Dear Reuben Abati: Omoyele Sowore is about to take you to the cleaners yet again. You deliberately engaged in misinformation while leaving out the details of your SMS exchange with Sowore. I hope you engage Sowore for a little while longer as a means of introducing yourself to some villagers who do not already know you because they have not been around long enough. For some of us who have known you for a while, you lost ALL credibility a long time ago and there is not much you can do to redeem yourself. posted on 01-29-2012, 16:29:34 PM IgweRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity”Abati continues to dance naked in public for money. It was because of that greed that he sold out.
Here again he's telling white lies, confusing the gullible with 'official' and 'unofficial' delegates. It's rather amusing that when he engages in his brand of sophistry, he does it very badly. I'm surprised that this time he didn't add 1st class and PhD to his name. Nonsense and ingredients! I weep for Nigeria. Ka Chineke mezie okwu! posted on 01-29-2012, 17:34:34 PM First-ladyRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU SummiQUOTE:
The truth lies within that highlighted part 1.There are official delegates recorded in the books 2.Some other people "traveled on their own" to Ethiopia I know say I no get am for PhD neither do I have B.Sc (Cantab) nor BA Hons (Toronto) but by the Grace of God I passed my 8 papers in WAEC at one sitting with flying colors when WAEC was WAEC 
no GCE ,no EXPO, no special center arrangements authentic original WASC, no shaking That must count for something. posted on 01-29-2012, 19:28:59 PM AuspiciousRe: Sahara Reporters on “Culture of Waste and Insensitivity” and the 18th AU SummiQUOTE:
Yeah Whatever. Prove it - heck, what are the colors? Eeesh..! -- Comments Page: 1 2 |
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