Picture counters Jonathan’s denial of hobnobbing with ex-Gov. Sheriff in Chad

Abati's uploaded the image on Twitter

“The former Governor’s presence in Chad was certainly not at President Jonathan’s instance and he did not participate in any of the President’s discussions with President Idriss Deby or his other engagements in Ndjamena.”

But a picture earlier released by Mr. Abati himself is at variance with the claim he made in the statement he released on Thursday.


The picture showed President Jonathan, his host, President Idris Deby, and Mr. Sheriff seated in a room. The three men appeared to be engaged in a closed-door meeting.

Assuming Mr. Sheriff, who recently defected to the PDP, was in Ndjamena on his own private visit and was indeed at the airport to receive President Jonathan and his delegation on arrival, how did the ex-Governor, who the President confirmed is under investigation, find his way into official meetings of state in the Chadian capital?

The picture shows clearly President Jonathan, President Idris Deby of Chad and Mr. Sheriff in a meeting. Was the picture that of Mr. Sheriff conducting his own private meeting with Presidents Jonathan and Deby in attendance? Or was the meeting that of Nigerian and Chadian Presidents with the former Borno Governor in attendance?

Why did the presidency claim that Mr. Sheriff did not participate in any meeting with Presidents Jonathan and Deby when a State House picture communicated the contrary?