Aug. 4, 2014
NewsRescue– Very few Nigerians know that it was a single evil mastermind, Jonathan’s media man, Reuben Abati that concocted the deadly slanderous accusation against the person of ex-head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, that claimed he made statements of making “Nigeria ungovernable,” in the event he lost the 2011 presidential elections. Abati cooked up the viral lies in a Guardian publication captioned “For the attention of General Buhari” published in April of 2011.
- Related: NewsRescue-EXPOSED: It Was PDP That Promised To Make Nigeria Ungovernable in 2011, Buhari Never Did!
Buhari took him to court and as can be read below, under begging from the Presidency, Buhari agreed to settle out-of-court and Abati and the Guardian he used to be managing editor for published a public apology to Buhari on 11th July 2013. But truth never spread like the slander; and despite the presidency begging Buhari, the other than Abati, all the other media ‘dogs’ of the presidency continued promoting the same slander. Rather shocking to realize this. NewsRescue has opened a $1000 challenge for whoever can provide where Buhari ever said anything about making Nigeria ungovernable in 2011, just to dig out the truth once and for all; because this will be very unfair to the person of Buhari that we continue to peddle this evil slander.
An article we missed that was in all major dailies:
Presidency begs Buhari to settle slander case out of court
The presidency has begged former Head of States and national leader of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to settle out of court the libel suit he filed against the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.
It would be recalled that Abati had on page 51 of the April 22, 2011, edition of The Guardian newspaper, written an article entitled “For the attention of General Buhari,” where he claimed that Buhari made an unguarded statement which stirred the post-election violence that almost tore the nation apart.
The former Military General however, regarded the publication as libellous, aimed at denting his hard earned name and image.
However, in a copy of the Terms of Settlement filed before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja, the ‘warring’ parties have agreed to settle the matter out of court.
According to the terms of settlement, dated December 2012 and filed before the administrative judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, the claimant (Buhari), Mr. Tope Adebayo ( lawyer to Buhari), Abati and Mr. Kunle Sanyaolu (lawyer to The Guardian) signed the terms of settlement. But the lawyer to the first defendant (Abati), Dame Carol Ajie, refused to sign the document. The refusal may not be unconnected to the conditions and terms of the agreement.
It was gathered that the parties further agreed that Abati and The Guardian should retract and apologise to Buhari in certain form and contents.
“The claimant and defendants have agreed and resolved that the retraction and apology shall take the following form and contents: ‘Re: For the attention of General Buhari’- On April 22, 2011, The Guardian Newspaper published an article on Page 51 titled ‘For the attention of General Buhari’ where certain allegations were made against General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), GCFR, concerning the 2011 election and General Buhari’s alleged role in the violence emanating from the elections.
“The publication was based on information which we believed to be reliable at that time. Since the publication, however, we now have reason to believe that certain parts of the story were not verified to be correct before the publication.
“We assure General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), GCFR, of our highest esteem and regret any distress or embarrassment which the said publication may have caused him.
“The claimant and defendants agree that on the execution of these Terms of Settlement, the defendants are discharged from all or any liabilities or obligations arising from the said publication.”
http://dailypost.ng/2013/01/13/presidency-begs-buhari-to-settle-slander-case-out-of-court/
Buhari obliged: The out of court settlement
GUARDIAN Re: For the attention of General Buhari
Thursday, 11 July 2013 00:00 Editor
SIR: “On April 22, 2011, The Guardian Newspaper published an article on page 51 titled “For the attention of General Buhari” wherein certain allegations were made against General Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged role in the violence emanating from the elections.
The publication was based on information which we believed to be reliable at that time. Since the publication, however, we now have reason to believe that certain parts of the story were not verified to be correct before the publication.
We assure General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) GCFR of our highest esteem and regret any distress or embarrassment which the said publication may have caused him.”
The Whole Truth about the “Ungovernable” comment
It was a PDP politician, Alhaji Lawal Kaita that said:
“The North is determined if it happens, to make Nigeria ‘ungovernable’ for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy.”
“Ungovernable” came within the PDP and was related to PDp zoning issues. Makes sense? Now recollect what NSA Andrew Azazi revealed before he was killed and it all adds up.
- Related: NewsRescue-EXPOSED: It Was PDP That Promised To Make Nigeria Ungovernable in 2011, Buhari Never Did!
