Abuja based group, Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN) has described the interview published in the last Saturday Punch newspaper, purportedly granted by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Ogun State, Mr. Esho Jinadu (a.k.a Buruji Kashamu) as fraud, urging probe of its authenticity.
Saturday Punch had published a two-page interview titled; “I’m ready to spend N1bn for PDP to win Ekiti election –Kashamu,” by one Segun Olatunji.
However, SRLN, in a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Comrade Chima Ubeku pointed out that the said interview was written by the Punch reporter from a full-page advert published in the Nigerian Tribune and The Nation Newspapers of Wednesday, August 28, 2013.
The group said it was unfortunate that Punch newspaper, which is noted for its editorial professionalism could descend to such a ridiculous level of publishing as an interview, what Tribune and The Nation newspapers published as advert and were paid for.
“We are compelled to caution The Punch newspapers’ management after going through the Buruji Kasamu’s interview and comparing same with the advert published in Tribune and The Nation newspapers on August 28, 2013.
“For instance, Kasamu purportedly said in the interview when he was asked; What’s the relationship between you and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo?’, ‘It is an indisputable fact that the only superior, leading leader that we have in Yoruba land is Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. All others, including my humble self, are his foot soldiers. There is no quarrel between me and our Baba. He has been my father and he will continue to be my father. Even if we disagree on principles, we will resolve our differences like father and son that we are. He is my father and commander-in-chief. I say once again that I am just one of his foot soldiers.’
“This statement is the same (word for word) as it was written in the advert published in Tribune and The Nation.
“There are many other instances in the interview that established clearly that it was merely done to get what The Punch rejected as an advert published as an interview.
“Most importantly, the Buruji Kasamu that we know can neither speak nor write flawless English as presented in the interview and we wish to ask Mr Segun Olatunji if he conducted the interview in Yoruba language?
“Therefore, we urge management of The Punch newspapers to investigate the authenticity of the interview with a view to unravelling the mystery behind it. This can be done simply by asking Mr Segun Olatunji to produce the recording of the interview and photographs taken during the interview if any,” SRLN said.
