The Presidency has described as “false and irresponsible’’ reports that former President Goodluck Jonathan was blackmailed to support the governing party, APC, in the recent Bayelsa State elections.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, expressed shock that such a story could be considered believable to the point of being given space in some newspapers.
“It just doesn’t make any sense,’’ he said “Our media really must learn to verify whatever they publish and people who make wild allegations during interviews should be made to produce the facts backing their claims by editors. A newspaper can be sued for granting space to people who belch false allegations against individuals with no proof.’’
Shehu in a statement by the deputy director information at the statehouse, Abiodun Oladunjoye, said the former president had been out of power for almost five years, without any previous allegations of government blackmail cropping up.
He noted that there were more than enough reasons for Dr. Jonathan to work against his party, PDP, in the just-concluded Bayelsa elections, without interference by President Muhammadu Buhari.
