Former President Goodluck Jonathan has strongly debunked recent media reports alleging that he was offered a ₦500 billion inducement to enter the presidential race against the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi. The report claimed the move was strategically orchestrated to split the crucial South-South vote bank.
In a swift reaction on Sunday, the Special Adviser on Media to the former president, Dr. Ikechukwu Eze, issued a formal statement in Abuja vehemently denying the allegations.
Dr. Eze characterized the publication as entirely false, baseless, and a calculated attempt to mislead the public. The statement emphasized that there is no truth whatsoever to the claims of financial inducement or any political plot involving the former president in this regard.
The media office described the report as a fabrication lacking any shred of evidence. The statement urged the public to disregard the report, framing it as malicious speculation aimed at generating unnecessary political tension.
The former president’s camp reiterated Jonathan’s long-standing commitment to national peace, democratic integrity, and unity, rather than divisive political maneuvers.
Further reactions from independent political analysts suggest that as election season intensifies, misinformation targeting high-profile statesmen is on the rise, urging media outlets to verify claims before publication.
