We have noted with regret the continuation
today by SaharaReporters.com of its usual
scurrilous and baseless attacks on the
Jonathan Administration with publication of a
false claim that the President is leading a 600-
man delegation to the 68th Session of the
United Nations General Assembly in New York.
While we trust that discerning members of the
public who are already very familiar with
SaharaReporters’ usual fare of mischief,
outright falsehood and erroneous speculation
will rightly dismiss this latest claim as a fresh
manifestation of the online medium’s ill-will
towards President Jonathan and his
administration, we wish to affirm for the
benefit of the unwary that there is absolutely
no truth in the allegation that the President
took a 600-man delegation to New York.
There is also no substance to the rehashed
charge of profligacy which SaharaReporters
annually makes against the President when he
leads Nigeria’s delegation to the UN General
Assembly.
The truth is that less than 30 persons arrived
in New York with the President this morning
as members of his entourage. Other than
them, the only other persons who are in New
York for the UN General Assembly with the
President’s knowledge and approval are
relevant ministers and few essential aides.
President Jonathan’s official delegation is
definitely not out of proportion with Nigeria’s
size, role and relevance in Africa and the
global community.
SaharReporters’ claim that the President’s
delegation is the largest at this year’s General
Assembly is an unjustifiable fabrication which
can never stand any rigorous test of
truthfulness.
We are certainly aware that many Nigerian
citizens are currently on visits to New York.
These persons are here for their own purposes
and neither President Jonathan nor his
administration has any responsibility for the
presence of these persons in New York.
We will not be surprised if it is such persons
who include Nigerian businessmen who are
here for an African Business Roundtable
event, members of non-governmental
organizations and tourists that
SaharaReporters has been counting, for the
sole purpose of mischief-making, as “members
of the Nigerian delegation”.
Abati