Foremost journalist and Chairman of the Editorial Board of THISDAY, Olusegun Adeniyi, has explained the backlash that followed his column last week.
Adeniyi, who said this in his latest column, apologised to his followers, adding that he understands their reason for holding him to such high standards.
He wrote: “Last week, I goofed big time. And I was flogged mercilessly on Twitter.
“A campaign of calumny was also launched against me on WhatsApp.
“Since I do not expect to be judged by a standard lower than the one with which I pass ‘Verdict’ on this page, I took them in stride.”
Adeniyi, spokesman of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, had in the column written that two of the issues that got the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, into trouble involved former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma.
He said while EFCC operatives searched the house of Abubakar in Minna, the Niger State capital, Magu stopped a cheque with which Danjuma wanted to buy an aircraft.
He said both actions were taken by Magu without consulting the Presidency, considering the status of both men.
But Adeniyi said he has since discovered that he was misled by his usually reliable sources.
He added: “But let me tender my apology to former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and former Defence Minister, Lt General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd).
“My sources failed me on information that the duo were victims of power-mongering by the now-suspended EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu.
“Rather than make excuses, let me also apologise to Magu and my readers who I do not take for granted.”
