Re: We stand by our story

I ordinarily will not join issues with any newspaper or media organization because as they say, ‘dogs don’t eat dogs’. As the Chief Press Secretary to a Governor, newspapers and the electronic media are purveyors of my practice. It is therefore a very tough decision to react to a blatant lie told against my person. […]

I ordinarily will not join issues with any newspaper or media organization because as they say, ‘dogs don’t eat dogs’. As the Chief Press Secretary to a Governor, newspapers and the electronic media are purveyors of my practice. It is therefore a very tough decision to react to a blatant lie told against my person. I have taken this decision in firm belief that it would not affect my excellent relationship with my colleagues in Daily Trust.
But the truth is that I was not the originator of the story in question. Whoever weaves it around me will himself or herself be troubled in his or her mind now because it is simply not true.
I have always issued statements, signed or spoken on record with my colleagues on issues concerning my job as the spokesperson of the Chief Servant of Niger State. I challenge whoever planted the story in Daily Trust to set the record straight by producing audio record or/and transcript of my interview with the reporter on the issue.
I am pained by the report that portrays me as a fifth columnist in the government of Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu. I am aware that the Governor is solidly behind the G7 and that he is on a rescue mission based on conscience and conviction. Daily Trust reported correctly my reaction to the rumoured jumping of ship by the Chief Servant. I was indifferent and “neither confirmed nor denied”, the newspaper reported in its Tuesday October 29, 2013 edition.
I now wonder why the volte face. I do not want to believe that the earlier report was meant to deceive the reading public. Coming from an outfit that I have utmost respect for, makes it more excruciating for me to openly react. The issue of integrity is as sacrosanct to me as it is to any newspaper.
I hope the paper will do more in-house investigation to uncover who gave the report, its intent and clarify misconception about a journalist just serving his State as Governor’s spokesman.
I will continue to do my best to keep my relationship with my colleagues, but I need to put the record straight that I am not the source of this scandalous report.
I therefore demand a retraction of the story.
 
Danladi Ndayebo, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State