President Jonathan Inflicts Police On LEADERSHIP Newspaper

By SaharaReporters, New York

The police in Abuja have descended heavily on LEADERSHIP newspaper over a story in which it alleged to a “presidential directive” aimed at muzzling opposition to Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, running the newspaper ragged in the manner of a military regime.

“Between [last] Wednesday when the newspaper first published the story and yesterday, police officers have visited the newspaper’s head office in Abuja three times, demanding to see the journalists who wrote the story,” the newspaper said in a story this morning.  “The psychological siege climaxed yesterday with a summons to the newspaper to appear at Force Headquarters in Abuja this morning.”
In the story, Leadership said the directive, referenced as Presidential Directive 95 and dated March 26, showed that the presidency had given the marching orders for “everything to be done to frustrate the merged opposition parties.”
“According to Presidential Villa insiders, a presidential directive is similar to an executive order,” the story said. “It is instigated, prepared and executed with the full knowledge and approval of the president.”
A source told the newspaper that the directive bore “the full imprint of President Goodluck Jonathan,” adding, “It’s now gloves off in the battle for 2015.”
In its story today, the newspaper cited a letter dated yesterday,April 7, signed by Deputy Police Commissioner Danlami Mohammed, in which the police summoned its group news editor Tony Amokeodo, and two correspondents,  Chibuzor Ukaibe and Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, to report to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police ‘D’ Department this morning over the story.
“The letter was addressed to the chairman, LEADERSHIP Group Limited.  The letter reads in part: “This office is investigating the circumstances leading to your Front Page publication entitled, “Outrage Trails Presidential Directive On Tinubu, APC” and a sub-title captioned ‘Bromide of the Presidential Directive.’ Based on our fact finding efforts, you are hereby requested to release the above mentioned reporters to interview the Deputy Inspector General of Police ‘D’ Department (FCID) on Monday, 8th April, 2013 at 1000 hours.”
According to Leadership, in the presidential directive Jonathan also hinted at plans to target the business interests of the ACN national leader,  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  
He also said that petrol prices would be increased from the present N97 per litre to between N130 and N140, but that public opinion should first be gauged on the matter.
Mr. Jonathan’s ambition to remain in office beyond 2015 has recently come under opposition and difficulties of many colours, including considerable turmoil within his own party, and his amateurish performance in office