Moshood Mustapha confirms report
…abuses National Pilot
Rejoinder to medium’s Cover
Story of February 22, 2018 Edition
The National Pilot has made Hon Moshood Mustapha the bout of its sensational and false reports. Edition after edition, the newspaper has published one falsehood after another in a futile bid to criminalise MM’s gubernatorial ambition.
The National Pilot has become a rabid attack dog for the reason well-known to discernible Kwarans.
It’s latest edition has, typically, a cover story captioned: “MOSHOOD MUSTAPHA’S MOVE TO WOO DELE BELGORE BACKFIRES.”
The report reeks of bile and frustration. It is beneath the standard required of a professional newspaper.
Interestingly, it was Mr. Dele Belgore, SAN, who first drew my attention to the false publication. He was as surprised as any decent person would be that his name was being used in such a blatant manner.
MM meeting Belgore or any acquainttance is not a big deal.
Even when it was a taboo to socialise or interact with politicians in opposing camps, MM visibly made an exception. Politics should never divide brothers and friends.
It is strange but understandable that a story of that magnitude had no input from Mr. Belgore. He was not contacted because that would have given away the game. Professionalism and ethical standards had no place in the report.
Two former commissioners were defamed as being witnesses to the alleged action of MM in Mr. Belgore’s house. The named former commissioner, Alhaji Rasaq Lawal, has responded strongly to the falsehood. He has not met the senior lawyer in over two years. The unnamed former commissioner readers don’t know and he remains a mystery. . But it is not difficult to know that the story was all made up.
The attempt to sow a seed of discord in Mustapha’s family is a wasted effort. The family encourages every member to exercise their democratic right as they deem fit. Any insinuation about a family war over politics is a figment of the imagination of the National Pilot and social media paid agents.
There is obviously a marriage of convenience between those who seek to hound MM out of his current political party where he is a pioneer member and those who believe they can stop him from being embraced in other platforms.
But let it be known that intimidation, harassment and blackmail will not stop MM’s divine political project.
The National Pilot must stop it’s serial false publication against Hon. Mustapha
It is in its professional interest to do so. Kwarans and Nigerian are more knowledgeable and cannot be fooled by outlandish propaganda.
Why is MM targeted out of all those seeking to occupy the highest elective political office in Kwara State? It is because he is the man to beat.
But he will be judged electorally by his past and current contributions to the development of Kwara State and not by what National Pilot and social media assassins publish.
We hope that this rejoinder will enjoy the same prominence that the false publication enjoyed in your newspaper.
Your professional integrity, or whatever remains of it, is at stake.
Abdulazeez Kayode, Media aide to Honourable Moshood Mustapha.
23rd February, 2018.
OUR POSITION
Over the weekend, Honourable Moshood Mustapha aka MM, a former Legislative Aide of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, issued a statement to discredit our cover story of Edition 27 Vol 27 captioned: “MOSHOOD MUSTAPHA’S MOVE TO WOO DELE BELGORE BACKFIRES,” dismissing it as a report that ‘reeks of bile and frustration.’
In the statement signed by his Media Aide, one Kayode Azeez, the former lawmaker, insinuated that National Pilot had allegedly made him, ‘bout of its sensational and falsehood.’
Although, we could have ignored and dismiss the frivolous claims in the statement, but for the sake of our readers whom have come to know us for our credibility, we deemed it right to put the record straight.
For discerning minds, MM in the statement, like a drowning man holding unto a straw, attempted to punch holes in the report to no avail. He belaboured to challenge the report but his argument were tacky and frosted with loose ends.
We must state categorically that before the paper in which the report was published went to bed, several attempts were made, as done with all the reports this newspaper published lately regarding MM, to reach out to him to get his side of the story for balance through calls and text messages, but he was evasive. Even after he was given assurance that the report would help promote his cause, if he opens up on his position on the issue, MM remained unyielding. In our Edition 26 Vol 27 with the Headline: “Kwara 2019: APC summons Moshood Mustapha over Anti-Party,” MM spoke to our reporter and despite the promise to get back, he never did but put us on hold till midnight and rejected several calls thereafter, thus causing delay for production of the said publication in the process. This was after a text message that was sent to him had marked read.
Some of the messages sent to him seeking his reaction for the stories read thus:
Feb 15 at 12 24am
“Salam sir,… Before now regarding those stories you talked about sir, I called and even sent text messages to get your reaction based on my MD’s insistence but no reaction Sir. There are many talks out there which we consider to be rumour and insinuation regarding this issue and we wanted to report the story from your view through your reaction. We believe the advantage of our credibility and outreach will go a long way to assist you to put things in perspective Sir. Many thanks sir”
Feb 18 at 5:16pm
“Salam Alaykum sir and my highest regards always Sir. Sir we learnt the party at the ward level in Alanamu has called on you to explain alleged anti party activities. We would like to have your reaction regarding the issue sir. Thanks very much Sir”
And for the last Wednesday edition Feb 21 8:53pm
“Salam Sir and my highest regards to your honoured self and the family. I am calling for your reaction to an alleged disagreement over the guber ticket between you and Lukman Mustapha few days back sir and that you reportedly sought support of Dele Belgore’s assistance over the ticket. Thanks Sir and my utmost regards and respect always Sir”.
It is interesting to note that the lawmaker did not as much as challenge the fact that he paid a visit to Mr. Dele Belgore as he stated that “MM meeting Belgore or any acquaintance is not a big deal.” This, lends credence to the credibility of the newspaper as we contacted credible sources from within his family and political camps, who availed us with information and details on the issue.
It is unfortunate that MM has yet to realise the fact that having put himself up for contest into public office, he has lost his privacy. As one seeking to serve the people, he is subject to public scrutiny.
It is therefore, out of place for MM to question this paper on the frequency of its report on him, except he has skeleton in his cupboard and afraid that further reports may open up a can of worm.
Since MM declared in the statement that he is the ‘man to beat’ as regards the guber contest in Kwara State, he should know that more focus will be on him.
We must state categorically that the newspaper has on several occasions published stories which are favourable to MM in the past. He had also sought the partnership and support of National Pilot to feather his political ambition. One of such reports was when he distributed bags of rice to Kwarans during Sallah celebration with a pictorial report which enjoyed space on our cover page. Sadly, he has now turned around to say the newspaper is unprofessional in its report, alleging unfounded witch hunting.
We want the public to note that after the story in question was published, there were threats emanating from the politician’s political camp and we hope that his reaction is not a prelude to violent reprisal.
However, we must state unequivocally that we remained undeterred because we are guided by our conscience and would not stop discharging our responsibilities as enshrined in the ethics of the profession and constitution of Nigeria.
We must state that this medium is not out to ‘criminalise’ MM’s ambition as alleged in the statement. National Pilot is not holding brief for anyone or being teleguided. We have nothing against MM or his ambition as our newspaper has no preferred candidate. The newspaper is always available for him to advance his cause to the public given its popularity, credibility and wide spread in the state.
However, we must say that Honourable MM acted in the most dishonourable manner by resorting to name calling and using abusive words on the newspaper. His choice of language smirks of crass irresponsibility unbecoming of someone aspiring for the number one seat in the state.
We expect him to be civil, exercise decorum and show integrity, which are virtues of good leaders, but he was found wanting with his display of gross immaturity.
As a socially responsible newspaper held in public trust, our foremost duty is to protect public interest over and above individual or a group of people’s interests. Therefore, we find it demeaning for MM to rubbish our report and condemn our sense of professionalism.
However, we have no regret on the said report and others that have been published on him because it was done with high sense of professionalism.
To our esteemed readers and for the protection of our hard earned reputation as an award winning and leading newspaper in the state, we want to staunchly state that WE STAND BY OUR STORY.
