We Caught Enemy Of State Who Leaked Buharis Speech Adesina

Femi Adesina , Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd .) says the “ Enemy of the State ,” who leaked his principal ’ s draft speech on Monday , is “ already answering for his evil action ” .

The social media had been inundated with the President ’s draft speech a few hours before his address to the nation on Monday .

The document , though marred with typos and other errors , showed some sameness to the one which was later read by the President .

However, the striking difference was that the draft copy stated that the lockdown in Federal Capital Territory Abuja , Lagos and Ogun States , would be lifted on Saturday , May 2 .

But Buhari in his address later that evening said the gradual easing of lockdown in the three places would be effective Monday , May 4 .

Reacting on Friday through his column , ‘ From the Inside ’, Adesina said “ an Enemy of the State struck in Nigeria on Monday ” , adding that the person was guilty of “ sabotage ” and did not wish the country well .

He said, “ I took a look at the circulating document, and within one minute , I knew that it was a rogue copy .

“ I made a few phone calls to those of us involved with the script, right from origination, which was from outside the Presidency , to final editing , which I did, and the conclusion was easy to reach .

“ Who would do such a thing , except an Enemy of the State, someone who wants to ridicule the government ?

“ But he forgot that in these days of technology , almost everything leaves a trail.

Before the end of that evening , computer evidence had narrowed down the suspect, and he was already answering for his evil action .”

The President ’ s spokesperson lamented that some media houses ( not The PUNCH ) fell for the “ sinister ” motive of the person as they published the ‘May 2 ’ date contrary to the ‘May 4 ’ date announced by his principal during the broadcast.

“ There is a way we release information from the media office of the President . And the media knows it . If a presidential speech was to be given ahead , there would be an embargo on it for a particular time . The circulating copy bore no embargo, yet they fell for it and got embarrassed by publishing inaccurate information , ” he said.