Jonathan wasn't booed in SA, says Presidency

The Presidency has denied media reports that President Goodluck Jonathan was booed in Pretoria over his perceived mishandling of the case of the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State during the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma.

The media reports had claimed that the crowd at the inauguration registered their disapproval of government’s inability to rescue the girls one month after, with boos of “Bring back our girls” directed at Jonathan as he stepped into the venue of the swearing in ceremony.

Briefing journalists shortly after arrival from South Africa, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, described the reports as untrue. 

He said the reports fitted into an ongoing alleged attempt to “throw just anything at the present administration in an attempt to discredit it.”

“It is unfortunate on our arrival, I read one or two reports alleging that the President was jeered at the inauguration ceremony. This is absolutely untrue and those who are peddling that kind of misinformation are being unfair, they are being uncharitable and it fits into an ongoing attempt to throw just about anything at this administration in attempt to discredit the administration. 


"If anything, what we saw and witnessed in South Africa is that the people of South Africa showed much appreciation of President Jonathan’s presence at the inauguration ceremony and President Jonathan received great hospitality in terms of the response from the people,” Abati said.

He said the whole world recognised that the challenge that Nigeria faces at the moment.

Abati noted that Nigeria and South Africa were two friendly and brotherly countries with strong bilateral relations in many areas.