REVEALED: Latest IBB Letter to GEJ Never Existed

An alleged open letter from former military ruler Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to President Goodluck Jonathan has caused quite a stir on media in the evening of January 29, 2014, Wednesday. Concerns among close associates of the two men were raised.
The latest statement received a life of its own after it was posted on the Facebook page of the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
According to Vanguard, IBB’s ‘phantom letter’ was dismissed as a concoction by Mr. Kassim Afegbua, erstwhile media aide to Gen. Babangida, who was quoted to have released the letter in a statement.
Mr. Afegbua, who is currently the spokesperson to the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, described the statement as an act of blackmail, saying he did not issue the statement and that it did not come from Babangida.

“I did not issue the said statement that is flying around the social media on behalf of IBB.

“Let me also declare with all the emphasis at my disposal that General IBB did not authorize anyone to issue any statement on his behalf let alone crediting same odious statement to me; Prince Kassim Afegbua,” he said.

The letter posted on several social media sites quoted IBB’s recommendation to Jonathan:

“I will like to advise President Goodluck Jonathan to tread cautiously so that those sycophants in, and out of government will not derail his focus, resilience and perseverance. He needs all the comportment, resilience, perseverance, introspection and determination to be able to take the right decisions for the good of the country. The arrest and release of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is a deliberate distraction which the President must run away from.”

However, Prince Afegbua denied the statement above:

“General IBB is a leader of leaders that I admire so much and one whose understanding of the delicate politics of the country is, in my honest view, unequalled. I have been a very good student of his political school of thought since I met him till date and I will remain so till the end of time. It is not in his character to join issues with leaders in such pedestrian manner as reflected in the so-called statement credited to me. This rebuttal becomes instructive to put the records straight and disabuse the minds of our numerous followers, friends and associates who may come across this statement in one way or the other.

“I therefore wish to formally disown the said statement in part, whole and its entirety. It was neither authorized by me nor General IBB and should be so discountenanced. I wish to thank my reputable colleagues in the media who quickly saw through this statement as a piece of abhorrence and alerted me almost immediately. May God continue to replenish your wisdom and deep sense of judgment.”