This denial cannot stand

I recall that this paper was forced to reveal the source of the story with the title quoted in the piece referred to by Ndayebo when the source and his boss not only denied the story the next day, but tried to cast aspersions on the paper and the reporter to the extent of alleging […]

I recall that this paper was forced to reveal the source of the story with the title quoted in the piece referred to by Ndayebo when the source and his boss not only denied the story the next day, but tried to cast aspersions on the paper and the reporter to the extent of alleging it was planted to discredit the governor.
Further denial by Ndayebo as seen in the current statement, tries to portray the writer as a liar who had chosen to wistfully concoct a tale to achieve a certain goal.
But the fact remains that on Monday October 28, the press secretary to the governor, who is an old acquaintance of mine since his days as a reporter in an Abuja based national daily, was the one that called to say he had a scoop for me and went ahead to narrate how Governor Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu is planning to leave the fold of the new PDP citing all the reasons contained in the story.
Since the source was not disclosed, it is usual to try to confirm from the subject of the story if what was being reported is true and that was when I went ahead to inquire from him what his reaction would be and used the comments he made as his reaction in the story.
I also went ahead to call the national chairman of the new PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, who did not pick the call and did not reply the text message sent to him as well as the national publicity secretary of the nPDP, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze whose lines were not going but later replied through an email to say that he was not aware but that he would find out.
Hence the disclosure about the source of the story stands and I have no doubt in my mind that that  was exactly what happened.  
I urge the press secretary not to further try to rubbish the hard earned reputation of this paper and that of the reporter with baseless ripostes that cannot stand the weakest scrutiny.
Andrew Agbese