A Nigerian political group has knocked Punch Newspaper for promoting sensationalism over facts in a report on the mobilization of corp members for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), describing the news report as divisive and heinous.
The Initiative to Save Democracy (ISD) in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday said a Punch Newspaper story titled, “COVID-19: Again, FG snubs Osinbajo report, mobilises corpers to camps” was written to cause disharmony in the Buhari administration.
According to the President of ISD, Mr Sunday James Akinloye, the report by the Punch Newspaper did not capture the true conversation but rather sought to tell lies for marketing purposes.
“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo did not make any personal submission as a matter of fact, the report which they claim is Osinbajo’s report emanated from the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) which was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by the VP.
“It is also important to state that there was no rejection of the report, what the ESC did was to make a suggestion, it did not make a recommendation or submission. Since then the NYSC has review the situation and thanks to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) rapid testing NYSC camps have been kept open with maximum adherence to the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines. This has made it possible for them to detect COVID-19 positive cases in real time,” the group said.
ISD stressed that the Federal Executive Council approved the Economic Sustainability Plan and that the President also endorsement. “All the schemes like Survival Fund, Social Housing, and five million Solar Installations are all part of the ESP and are currently being implemented but that does not interest Punch, only fake news interests them”.
“Trying to discord in the Buhari administration won’t work and trying to claim that the VP has an agenda will also not work. There are those who are sensationalising and there are those who are political opponents who are intimidated by VP’S profile,” the group added.
ISD then took a swipe at Punch Newspaper, noting that, it has a record of sowing discord and disunity. “This is not the first time that this newspaper will publish outright lies and falsehood. They have failed to adhere to the ethics of journalism and professionalism”.
Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed Punch Newspaper for its poor reportage. “This headline is both sensational and false. The ESP report that suggested the consideration of suspension of NYSC orientation was approved both by the President and FEC. That takes the matter farther from Osinbajo,” the ruling party support group said on Twitter.
“Besides, NCDC has since then developed rapid testing which now enabled NYSC to determine COVID-19 status of corpers before they start the camps and isolate positive cases. That rapid testing was not in place until now.
“Finally the report did not even report the FG side or the VP whose name they used to sensationalise their fake news,” APC Support Group said.
