L.M Ayedun..:
Saharareporters challenges President Jonathan to make public the list.. SaharaReporters, however, stands by its story of 600 delegates, which was borne out of thorough investigation.


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/state-house-denies-knowledge-hundreds-nigerians-new-york-jonathan-delegation-un-general-as

chris baba: Im not a jonathan fan, id however say i dont believe he took 600 delegates, dats ridiculous and the $10,000 hotel per night isnt bad for a president, its okay.

obailala:

A few years ago they were one of Nigeria's most credible and fearless whistle blowers but all of a sudden because you have a president you love on the throne, their reporting has automatically become 'biased and hate filled'... Wake up from your slumber my friend, Sahara Reporters did not change; power only shifted hands.

As far as I'm concerned, no matter how ridiculous the stories of SR may sound, there is always an element of truth and the stories end up being perfectly correct 80% of the time. I don't think I can quote such statistics for our government mouth pieces and other media agencies.

Mahatma Ghandi:

since when did elements of truth become truth ? at least you recognise some of their stories are ridiculous. well I wont say they are 80 % correct most of the time as you asserted, but if it is, those eighty % correctness is nothing but elements of truth, this I find disturbing. what the devil told eve in the garden was not a lie, it was just a story with elements of truths. I want to assume you know the story about half truths. what L. Monica told the press about president Clinton was not a lie what she told was stories with elements of truth, the basis on which ken saro wiwa was killed was not a lie, it was a story with elements of truth. my point is, the greatest deceits in history where all delivered with elements of truth. when u said I now have a different opinion because I love the president, well yes I love the president but not anymore than I love you. I try to be as objective as I can and I know many here will agree with me that Sahara reporters lost it somewhere along the line. I will beg you not to go categorising everyone that doesn't follow the trend of throwing stones at the presidents as fans of his, if the president errs I will put it as best I can constructively not destructively. in my humble opinion which I believe I am entitled to Sahara reporters have been trying to give the dog a bad name so that when it is finally hanged eye brows wont be raised.

Mahatma Ghandi:

since when did elements of truth become truth ? at least you recognise some of their stories are ridiculous. well I wont say they are 80 % correct most of the time as you asserted, but if it is, those eighty % correctness is nothing but elements of truth, this I find disturbing. what the devil told eve in the garden was not a lie, it was just a story with elements of truths. I want to assume you know the story about half truths. what L. Monica told the press about president Clinton was not a lie what she told was stories with elements of truth, the basis on which ken saro wiwa was killed was not a lie, it was a story with elements of truth. my point is, the greatest deceits in history where all delivered with elements of truth. when u said I now have a different opinion because I love the president, well yes I love the president but not anymore than I love you. I try to be as objective as I can and I know many here will agree with me that Sahara reporters lost it somewhere along the line. I will beg you not to go categorising everyone that doesn't follow the trend of throwing stones at the presidents as fans of his, if the president errs I will put it as best I can constructively not destructively. in my humble opinion which I believe I am entitled to Sahara reporters have been trying to give the dog a bad name so that when it is finally hanged eye brows wont be raised.

Mahatma Ghandi:

since when did elements of truth become truth ? at least you recognise some of their stories are ridiculous. well I wont say they are 80 % correct most of the time as you asserted, but if it is, those eighty % correctness is nothing but elements of truth, this I find disturbing. what the devil told eve in the garden was not a lie, it was just a story with elements of truths. I want to assume you know the story about half truths. what L. Monica told the press about president Clinton was not a lie what she told was stories with elements of truth, the basis on which ken saro wiwa was killed was not a lie, it was a story with elements of truth. my point is, the greatest deceits in history where all delivered with elements of truth. when u said I now have a different opinion because I love the president, well yes I love the president but not anymore than I love you. I try to be as objective as I can and I know many here will agree with me that Sahara reporters lost it somewhere along the line. I will beg you not to go categorising everyone that doesn't follow the trend of throwing stones at the presidents as fans of his, if the president errs I will put it as best I can constructively not destructively. in my humble opinion which I believe I am entitled to Sahara reporters have been trying to give the dog a bad name so that when it is finally hanged eye brows wont be raised.

obailala:

A few years ago they were one of Nigeria's most credible and fearless whistle blowers but all of a sudden because you have a president you love on the throne, their reporting has automatically become 'biased and hate filled'... Wake up from your slumber my friend, Sahara Reporters did not change; power only shifted hands.

As far as I'm concerned, no matter how ridiculous the stories of SR may sound, there is always an element of truth and the stories end up being perfectly correct 80% of the time. I don't think I can quote such statistics for our government mouth pieces and other media agencies.

obailala:
...And just to clarify something, a critic of the government reserves the right to be either constructive or destructive. All that matters is that the criticism knocks the government to order.[/color]

take dat: Why is Abati jogging down a beaten path? Rehashing worn out lies and playing a semantic game of rhetorical obfuscation. How many people traveled along side the President? How many ministers and state governors traveled with him? Are the ministers and governors with their own aides too? How many are the few essential staff? How many were in the advanced team? SR has its own failings but never trust an ornamented turncoat.

In 2012 when the President traveled to Ethiopia for AU summit, Sahara Reporters laid an allegation of waste and profligate junket against the Presidency and in Abati's rejoinder he claimed the President only traveled with 'one delegation entourage', and also promised to send the list of the delegates who traveled with the President once he got to his hotel room, till date Abati has not been able to release the list.


http://mobile.saharareporters.com/press-release/culture-waste-and-insensitivity-and-18th-au-summit-saharareporters-responds-reuben-a

The same excuse he offered during the Adis Ababa Episode was that some Nigerians had traveled to Ethiopia 'unofficially', and in continuation with the Series of lies, he claims many Nigerians who are not part of the President's entourage are 'currently on visits' to New York. This is a country where the president travels with his aides, his aides too will travel with their own aides.

zeen nurei: Then he should tell us which country sent delegates morethan Nigeria

gerald09:
Na wa oh a President of Africans largest, oil producing country and u expect my president to stay in "Queens" or probably a shack hotel in wart or Brooklyn. As long as its d president staying in dat Hotel am kool with it, dats the pucks of being president of an oil country.

Since u bring this up what kind of Hotel were u planning on him to stay?

Hamazz1: just hear your self its not bad to stay in a 10$ hotel per night.it is people like u that r encouraging loot in this country if you r talking abt him what of his entourage do u know how. Much they would have spent after 3days.

take dat: You are quick to ask for proof when GEJ is concerned but quick to pass judgment if it was the opposition.

*What of the proof/clue that the President is staying at the Pierre Hotel? SR gave this clue to buttress her story, and Abati did not refute the claim in his rejoinder.

*What of the proof/clue that the President is lodged in a suit that costs $10,000 per night? Abati kept mum on this as well.

You claim the onus is on SR to provide proof? Did Abati and co not debunk SR proof on Patience Jonathan's health saga? Did Abati not promise to release the list of those who traveled to Ethiopia and has not done that till date? If SR publishes the list, some will still claim its fictitious, crying bucket full of tears and hovering on top of GEJ's excrement mound simply because they believe the 'Presidency can do no wrong'.

BTW, a serious government would have released the names of those who traveled along side the President. Abi no be government dey mouth platitude about openness and transparency?

YarisMan: ''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.''

Did anybody notice that Abati is stylishly justifying SR reports by not giving us the exact number.
Mr Abati, pls give us the total number nah.
Wether you the boot lickers like it or not, Saharareporters' success far more outweigh their failures if any. During the days of Yaradua, they always get his itinerary right to the extent that the State house staff were compelled to swear an oath of secrecy. We need more of such for this kind of Nigerian government even to the level of local government.

awodman:
Oh they are not there for UN general assembly but to shop,yet they are on the president's entourage...pls stop boring us with your personal idiosyncracy and beliefs

obailala:
I can't agree with you more that half truths could be very dangerous but when we unfortunately live in a society where no truth exists, you will be left with no choice but to accept the half truths and then make what you can of it with your own wisdom.

The fact remains that if Sahara Reporters did not raise this issue, no single media organisation in Nigeria would have been bold enough to mention it and consequently, Nigerians would have been oblivious of this profligacy.

Yes we know SR could sometimes blow issues out of proportion so when I read their stories, I use my wisdom to moderate some of their figures. For instance, GEJ may not have taken a 600-man delegation but based on the SR story and the shallow defence of Mr Abati, I can bet you that delegation will not be less than 200.

...And just to clarify something, a critic of the government reserves the right to be either constructive or destructive. All that matters is that the criticism knocks the government to order.

dridowu: I neva 4 1ce belive ds 600 delegation but i want to belive that d number is higher than the 30 members

taharqa: Just hear yrself: so Destructive criticism 'knocks the Govt to order'?... Too many DONKEYs around *smh*

babuji: Abati should have come up with a more believable reply. You debunk allegations with verifiable facts and figures and not with vague info.

Maybe he is tired.

taharqa: Just hear yrself: so Destructive criticism 'knocks the Govt to order'?... Too many DONKEYs around *smh*

theoctopus:

The way you post incredibly ignorant statements is alarming. Destructive criticism does not know the government to order. It destroys the country and everything that is in it, including you and the community you live in. Some of you have taken your ignorance to a whole new level. Which investor will want to come to Nigeria if all they read is Sahara Reporters? How will the power sector reforms and privatization have gotten to this level if all they read is Sahara Reporters? How do you hope to achieve Eko Atlantic is all foreigners read is Sahara Reporters? In one breath you go about slagging off the country and pulling it down, in another breath, you go around asking them to come and invest in your mega city. You cannot eat your cake and have it. You folks have become the proverbial child that vows his mother would not sleep. How will you ever see sleep too?

chris baba: Im not a jonathan fan, id however say i dont believe he took 600 delegates, dats ridiculous and the $10,000 hotel per night isnt bad for a president, its okay.