I RESPECT GOVERNORS – JONATHAN

Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan has denied insinuations in the media that the Governors' Forum has no electoral value.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ima Niboro, President Jonathan, himself a former governor, said he could not have been so dismissive of the Governors Forum as to state that the body had no 'electoral value.'

The statement, which was meant to clarify issues as well as draw a line between his campaign organisation and the Presidency reads: 'This is to provide some form of clarification as guidance to our colleagues in the media, against the background of headlines announcing statements and comments all attributed to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

'The latest is The Independent headline today declaring that the President has said that the Governors' Forum has no electoral value.

'Even though I am quite convinced that Mr Sully Abu, the Director of

Publicity of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, who allegedly made these remarks, was quoted out of context, there is a need to draw a line between the campaign organisation and the Presidency, in terms of attribution in the media.

'It is hard to believe that President Jonathan, himself a former governor, could have been so dismissive of the Governors Forum as to state that the body has no 'electoral value.' 'The President enjoys excellent relations with all governors in the country and with the Governors' Forum, and it would be unfair, both to the governors and the President, to dismiss the body in such unflattering terms, and then attribute it to Jonathan.