16th November 2009

PRESS STATEMENT

Mischief Makers: "Sambo tipped to succeed Yar’adua” Kaduna State Government has called on Nigerians to disregard the content of the publication and consider same as handiwork and machinations of evil doers who wish nobody any good

Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the Nigerian Tribune and Compass newspapers of Monday 16th November 2009 with the captions “Sambo may succeed Yar’adua 2011” and “Presidency: Sambo tipped to succeed Yar’adua” respectively where mischievous references were made as to Mr. President’s desire to adopt the Mandela option come 2011 to pave way for His Excellency Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo’s endorsement by both Mr. President and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2011 Presidential contest.

We believe that the entire story is sponsored to muddle the hitherto good relationship existing between Mr. President His Excellency Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo. We see the hand of the Fifth Columnist in this episode and we wish to dissociate ourselves entirely from the story and its content.

We are confident in the ability of Mr. President to steer the mantle of leadership of this nation bestowed upon him by the Nigerian people, to faithfully accomplish his tenure of office and to further seek re-election in 2001 so as to complete the good work he has started.

At no time has His Excellency Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo nursed the ambition to succeed Mr. President in whatever form or fora neither has any such meeting ever taken place to the best of our knowledge.

We call on these mischief makers to channel their art somewhere else and allow the cordial relationship existing between Mr. President and His Excellency Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo thrive.

We also want to use this opportunity to call on Mr. President and the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor OFR, and all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the content of the publication and consider same as handiwork and machinations of evil doers who wish nobody any good.

 Signed:

Umar Sani

Special Adviser Media & Public Affairs