SAHARA REPORTERS AND CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY AGAIINST THE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF
The
attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to another round of
campaign of calumny against the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General
Tukur Yusufu Buratai and his family by some unscrupulous elements as
contained in Sahara Reporters story titled “Revealed: Buhari's Chief Of
Army Staff, General Buratai, Wives Own Dubai Property”, alleging that
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Buratai, and his two
wives are joint owners of a Dubai property that was paid for in one
transaction posted on the website, this evening.
It
is important to know that these baseless allegations were not new. In
March this year, some groups of individuals under the aegis of
“Concerned Citizens”, tried same smear campaign to their disappoinment,
it could not fly, because it is not true.
You
will recall early this week, there was similar campaign of calumny by
yet another online news medium, The Cable, in which among other things,
it alleged that wounded in action Nigerian Army personnel were abandoned
by the Army, government and the nation which is not true.
Therefore,
the latest round of smear campaign by Sahara Reporters is one of the
series of campaigns of calumny by these faceless individuals to malign
the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army. Yet, typical of
blackmailers and mischief makers despite failures, they did not give up,
hence they now found a willing accomplice reputed for muckraking like
the Sahara Reporters. The online news medium this evening uploaded
another campaign of calumny allegedly based on a petition by obviously
fake and non-existent group it described as “Concerned Soldiers and
Officers From the North East”.
The
allegations contained in the Sahara Reporters write up are baseless and
not correct. It is a fact that the Buratai family have two properties
in Dubai that were paid for instamentally through personal savings three
years ago. This, along with other personal assets have consistently
been declared by General Buratai in his Assets Declaration Form as
Commander Multinational Joint Task Force Commander and as Chief of Army
Staff.
It
is pertinent to state that the Chief of Army Staff does not have any
account with Skye Bank as alleged, let alone making deposits in the
imaginary bank account to the tune of the amount stated in the write up.
Similarly, he has not been involved in any form of shady or dishonest
transaction, not to talk of “contract scam”.
In
addition, General Buratai was never near either Defence Headquarters or
Army Headquarters in 2013. It is pertinent to also note that he was
never a Director of procurement in Army Headquarters as alleged. As a
matter of fact, the Nigerian Army never had a Directorate of Procurement
till when he established one last year when he became Chief of Army
Staff.
In
a bid to rubbish the hard earned reputation and good name of the Chief
of Army Staff, these blackmailers will stop at nothing hence all these
kinds of mudslinging.
It
is really worrisome that some people could condescend so low to
fabricate baseless allegation against the Chief of Army Staff for
reasons that could best be described as mischievous. It is equally
worrisome that Sahara Reporters could lend space for this obvious
mischief. We really do not believe that it is because the price is
right.
Consequently,
the public and indeed all well meaning persons should disregard this
round of campaign of calumny against the Chief of Army Staff and similar
ones because they are baseless and unfounded.
For
the unscrupulous elements and their cohorts, these campaigns would prod
the Nigerian Army and indeed the Chief of Army Staff to continue to
serve the nation diligently and with utmost zeal.
You are kindly requested to disseminate this information to the public through your medium.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman
Acting Director Army Public Relations
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