In response to Premium Times’ recent report alleging that Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), refused to release his academic records, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, labeled the article as a “voyage into mischief” in a statement titled ‘Atiku’s records and Premium Times’ voyage of mischief.
Premium Times claimed that Atiku declined to disclose his academic records upon request. However, Ibe pointed out that the documents used in the report were already in the public domain and criticized Premium Times for not seeking information directly from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or relevant educational institutions.
“We regret to say that what the newspaper did was a voyage into mischief. Without adherence to any known ethics of journalism, the Premium Times newspaper went into its mill to publish a story that is neither controversial nor shrouded in a cover-up,” stated Ibe.
He emphasized that Atiku is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom. Ibe invited Premium Times to request Atiku’s academic records from these institutions, emphasizing the lack of a court order preventing their release.
Ibe criticized Premium Times for what he deemed a lack of thorough diligence, stating, “Rather than take the path of thorough diligence which journalism requires, PremiumTimes went to press to publish a fictional story.”
The statement concluded by questioning the newspaper’s motives, accusing it of a “witch-hunt” and raising concerns about its impartiality in reporting on private citizens compared to its stance on the government.
The controversy revolves around the ethical standards of journalism, with Atiku’s camp asserting that Premium Times’ approach lacks the diligence required to establish the truth in matters of public interest.
