Personally, I do not understand why Political juggernauts often call for retraction of libelous publications against them instead of to actually going to Court not only to cause the same retraction but make some good money in addition and possible close down a lying and disstabilizing organization.
In 2011, Ruben Abati and the Guardian newspaper published a story that General Buhari was behind the massive insurgency and deaths that followed the 2011 Presidential election which he lost. He was quoted as having said “We will make the country ungovernable for Jonathan if he wins the election”. That statement was actually made by one Alhaji Isa Kaita, an associate of Atiku. It was a warning thrown at Obasanjo when it became clear that Obasanjo was working against Atiku contesting that year election.
Buhari threathened to go to court to claim N1b damages if the Guardian newspaper did not retract the publication. Jonathan even waded into the matter pleading with Buhari to let sleeping dog snore.He agreed and Guardian published this retraction
GUARDIAN/REUBEN APOLOGY :
Re: For the attention of General Buhari
Thursday, 11 July 2013 00:00
SIR: “On April 22, 2011, The Guardian Newspaper published an article on page 51 titled “For the attention of General Buhari” wherein certain allegations were made against General Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged role in the violence emanating from the elections. The publication was based on information which we believed to be reliable at that time. Since the publication, however, we now have reason to believe that certain parts of the story were not verified to be correct before the publication.
We assure General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) GCFR of our highest esteem and regret any distress or embarrassment which the said publication may have caused him.” — Editor
The problem is that while all Nigerians read the negative report against Buhari, only a handful of persons heard of the retraction. Till date the adverse report still trails Buhari. Nobody even remembers that same Ruben Abati was in 2017 investigated by EFCC and found to have stolen at least N60m from Jonathan government he served. The government of Buhari (that he so maligned) allowed him to quietly return N60m instead of getting him jailed. All tbese actions are not providing the needed deterrent to these criminalities which is in ascendancy in our nation. Now anyone can accuse any government top official of just anything but have handy, a retraction which would be sent in for publication in a week later when the falsehood would have gotten thoroughly rooted
It is in this light that I see the retraction by Vanguard, the publication they carried of Timi Frank caustic denting of Osibanjos image at this critical time. Accepting the retraction is suicidal
