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| Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina….Dazed that a blogger linked his name to a phony scheme. |
It seemed a perfect copy. The
“t” was nearly crossed, the “i” boldly dotted. The headline
spoke directly to the burning issue of the day over which not a few Nigerians
had understandably been losing sleep – the money-doubling scheme called MMM.
“t” was nearly crossed, the “i” boldly dotted. The headline
spoke directly to the burning issue of the day over which not a few Nigerians
had understandably been losing sleep – the money-doubling scheme called MMM.
Before its shadowy promoters
abruptly suspended their operation in November, thousands – if not millions
– of Nigerians already had billions of naira trapped in the scheme whose
attractions include a promise of phantasmagorical returns on investments within
weeks.
abruptly suspended their operation in November, thousands – if not millions
– of Nigerians already had billions of naira trapped in the scheme whose
attractions include a promise of phantasmagorical returns on investments within
weeks.
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So seductive was the bait that even
the General Overseer of a leading Pentecostal church in Lagos admitted that the
London branch of his flock earlier lost a staggering $5m £5m to the
money-doublers.
the General Overseer of a leading Pentecostal church in Lagos admitted that the
London branch of his flock earlier lost a staggering $5m £5m to the
money-doublers.
 |
| Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo…..The man whose church lost £5 million Pounds to MMM? |
As reported by the blog late on
Monday, ahead of the scheduled return of the Ponzi scheme, the presidency had
had a change of mind.
Monday, ahead of the scheduled return of the Ponzi scheme, the presidency had
had a change of mind.
Based on fresh advisory from the
EFCC, according to the blogger, the presidency had not only quashed
its earlier damning disclaimer but now considered MMM as a true partners in
poverty alleviation, particularly at this time of recession.
EFCC, according to the blogger, the presidency had not only quashed
its earlier damning disclaimer but now considered MMM as a true partners in
poverty alleviation, particularly at this time of recession.
And something quite unprecedented,
if not revolutionary, the followed that with a profuse apologies the miracle
workers toiling tirelessly, day and night, behind MMM.
if not revolutionary, the followed that with a profuse apologies the miracle
workers toiling tirelessly, day and night, behind MMM.
All interested Nigerians were
therefore urged to take advantage of MMM’s return to better their financial
condition.
therefore urged to take advantage of MMM’s return to better their financial
condition.
 |
| President Muhammadu Buhari….MMM blogger tied his name to the ponzy scheme and other fake news |
Just as the perennially adversarial media institutions were enjoined
to, for once, sheathe their swords and halt opposing progress.
What further proof of authenticity
of could anyone have thought or expected to believe this evidently “good
news” than its direct attribution to the president’s own media adviser, Femi
Adesina, as the author, his designation painstakingly spelt out under his names
fully capitalized, for effect.
of could anyone have thought or expected to believe this evidently “good
news” than its direct attribution to the president’s own media adviser, Femi
Adesina, as the author, his designation painstakingly spelt out under his names
fully capitalized, for effect.
My first instinct after reading the
bulletin which I imagined must have trended on the social media Monday evening
was outrage, wondering whether the Buhari administration had indeed become so
bereft of sanity to volunteer itself to be implicated in such sordid matters.
bulletin which I imagined must have trended on the social media Monday evening
was outrage, wondering whether the Buhari administration had indeed become so
bereft of sanity to volunteer itself to be implicated in such sordid matters.
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So, my next reaction was to call
Yomi Odunuga, The Nation’s Aso Rock correspondent, an Abuja insider, to verify
the release.
Yomi Odunuga, The Nation’s Aso Rock correspondent, an Abuja insider, to verify
the release.
It was news to him: “To the
best of my knowledge, no such statement came from the Villa today.”
best of my knowledge, no such statement came from the Villa today.”
 |
| Louis Odion the Author… Very Mad with fake and senseless bloggers who tries to drag journalism ethics to the mud |
I decided to call Femi, my old
colleague and brother. He screamed in incredulity at my inquiry, asking
rhetorically: “Me, issue a statement endorsing the Ponzi scheme ke?!”
colleague and brother. He screamed in incredulity at my inquiry, asking
rhetorically: “Me, issue a statement endorsing the Ponzi scheme ke?!”
Coincidentally, hours before Femi’s
purported “Ponzi statement” began to trend that Monday evening
another “breaking news” was being retailed by a different blog
declaring categorically that “Tension grips Delta Community ahead of
Osinbajo’s visit”.
purported “Ponzi statement” began to trend that Monday evening
another “breaking news” was being retailed by a different blog
declaring categorically that “Tension grips Delta Community ahead of
Osinbajo’s visit”.
As usual, without fear of God or
respect for facts, the blogger disclosed that all was set for Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo’s visit as part of President Buhari’s commitment to contain
renewed militancy in oil-rich Niger Delta. His port of call was listed as the
restive Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta
State.
respect for facts, the blogger disclosed that all was set for Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo’s visit as part of President Buhari’s commitment to contain
renewed militancy in oil-rich Niger Delta. His port of call was listed as the
restive Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta
State.
Stretching creativity to an
unbelievable limit, the blogger then linked reported arrest and invasion of
some ex-militant leaders’ homes by soldiers to the concert of precautionary
steps being taken by the authorities ahead of the arrival of the august
visitor.
unbelievable limit, the blogger then linked reported arrest and invasion of
some ex-militant leaders’ homes by soldiers to the concert of precautionary
steps being taken by the authorities ahead of the arrival of the august
visitor.
To garnish the picture, a local
leader was quoted in the report as confirming the impending visit.
leader was quoted in the report as confirming the impending visit.
 |
| Chief Edwin Clarke….His name was mentioned in connection with Vice President Osinbajo’s fake Gbaramatu visit |
But it was an agitated Laolu Akande,
media adviser to the Vice President, who issued a frantic disclaimer later that
Monday evening categorically denying Delta even featured in his boss’ itinerary
for the day, let alone a scheduled trip to Gbaramatu.
media adviser to the Vice President, who issued a frantic disclaimer later that
Monday evening categorically denying Delta even featured in his boss’ itinerary
for the day, let alone a scheduled trip to Gbaramatu.
Surely, journalism, our noble
calling is under attack. Once, the written word – in cold print – was taken as
gospel. But not any more as quacks, hustlers and just any mischief-maker with
access to the laptop besiege the cyber space seeking to redefine truth not as
fact but as fantasy. E-rats, millipedes (apologies to Wole Soyinka),
cowards and such monstrous creatures now hide in the anonymity of the cyber
space to peddle falsehood and foment libel.
calling is under attack. Once, the written word – in cold print – was taken as
gospel. But not any more as quacks, hustlers and just any mischief-maker with
access to the laptop besiege the cyber space seeking to redefine truth not as
fact but as fantasy. E-rats, millipedes (apologies to Wole Soyinka),
cowards and such monstrous creatures now hide in the anonymity of the cyber
space to peddle falsehood and foment libel.
 |
| VP Yemi Osinbajo, did his Principal, President Buhari sent him to Gbaramatu on the speculated date? NO |
It is high time all stakeholders
were alerted to this clear and present danger to our collective social
health.
were alerted to this clear and present danger to our collective social
health.
