President Mohammadu Buhari has accused the London Telegraph Newspapers of
\npublishing articles aimed at strengthening Boko Haram, the terrorist
\norganization operating in Northern Nigeria.<\/p>\n
A statement signed by Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu and issued to
\njournalist accused the London Newspaper of quoting “unknown source and
\n“western officials” in an article titled: “Children Face Death by
\nStarvation in Northern Nigeria.”<\/p>\n
The Presidency also repudiated the Newspaper’s claims that the Buhari’s
\nadministration is targeting Christians and opposition politicians.<\/p>\n
The Statement reads:<\/p>\n
The London Telegraph\u2019s article \u201cChildren Face Death by Starvation in
\nNorthern Nigeria” (30th August) repeats a claim from an earlier piece
\n“Nigeria Using UK Aid to Persecute President’s Political Foes” (12th
\nApril) – that Nigeria is diverting UK aid monies away from defeating the
\nIslamist terror group Boko Haram towards those the newspaper identifies as
\npolitical opponents of the Administration. This is as incorrect as it is
\nunhelpful.<\/p>\n
These claims in both articles are attributed to an unnamed \u201csource\u201d in the
\nUnited States, and \u201cWestern officials\u201d. Yet when the first article was
\npublished it drew the condemnation of the US Embassy in Abuja as having
\ndrawn conclusions directly opposite to the position of the US government.<\/p>\n
To state the facts: the UK government does not give development aid to the
\nNigerian administration for use in military operations against Boko Haram.
\nWhere British military support \u2013 such as intelligence – is provided, it is
\nprecisely and only, given for operations directly against Boko Haram.
\nSimilarly, the Nigerian Government is in no position to divert aid monies
\nused for emergency relief for refugees or IDP camps for any other purpose,
\nas these are dispensed directly by DFID, USAID, the United Nations, the
\nInternational Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and many other
\norganizations – with which we enjoy excellent relations.<\/p>\n
The humanitarian situation in these camps is real. The Administration
\nremains deeply concerned about the medical, health and nutrition
\nchallenges and we are doing everything with the limited resources we have
\nat our disposal to improve the situation. However, the blame for the
\nplight of refugees lies with Boko Haram. They are its cause, not the
\nNigerian Government.<\/p>\n
In the light of ongoing efforts, we regret the recent attack on the UN
\nhumanitarian convoy in the Northeastern region and are encouraged by the
\nworld body\u2019s determination to continue rendering assistance to the
\ndisplaced victims. That the attack was repelled by Nigerian troops
\nescorting the convoy shows precisely how the Government and humanitarian
\nagencies are working together.<\/p>\n
As for claims that the Administration is targeting Christians and the
\nopposition, these are without foundation.<\/p>\n
Since assuming office, President Buhari has treated all Nigerians without
\nbias for ethnicity or religion – as the composition of his cabinet and the
\npolicies and programmes of his Administration demonstrate.<\/p>\n
To suggest his government as deepening Muslim-Christian division is not
\nonly untrue, but plays into the hands of Boko Haram who wish to divide
\nNigerians along religious lines. Fighting this group is key priority of
\nPresident Buhari\u2019s Administration. Indeed the international community has
\nwidely acknowledged his determination to defeat terrorism in Nigeria and
\nthe entire Lake Chad Basin.<\/p>\n
There is nothing to gain by attempting to mould public opinion against
\nthese facts. Therefore we invite The Telegraph to visit Nigeria: to
\nwitness first hand not only the challenges we face, but the
\nAdministration\u2019s determination to confront them.<\/p>\n
Garba Shehu<\/p>\n
SSA Media and Publicity<\/p>\n
August 1, 2016<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Mohammadu Buhari has accused the London Telegraph Newspapers of publishing articles aimed at strengthening Boko Haram, the terrorist organization operating in Northern Nigeria. A statement signed by Presidential Spokesman,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n