It is being alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan has engaged the services of Levick, a Washington based PR firm to shore up his battered image, using the News Agency of Nigeria as front.
The PR firm today issued a statement on behalf of President Jonathan, which it sent to Nigerian media houses to explain why the meeting with the Chibok parents.
Yesterday, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur had reported that on their website that the Nigerian government is to pay Levick a sum of $100,000 monthly.
A report gleaned from noted thus:
“Technically, the contract is between Levick and the News Agency of Nigeria, the country’s state-run news agency. Per the FARA documents, Levick began charging the Nigerian government at the rate of $100,000 per month over the course of the next year for its services starting on June 16. According to the contract between the firm and Nigeria, Levick will provide “government affairs and communications counsel with the primary objective of changing the international and local media narrative” on a number of issues. These include, as quoted from the contract:
“The Government of Nigeria’s efforts to find and safely return the more than 200 girls abducted by the terrorist organization, Boko Haram, in the Borno State of Nigeria. Assisting the Government’s efforts to mobilize international support in fighting Boko Haram as part of the greater global war on terror.
Communicating the President Goodluck Jonathan Administration’s past, present and future priority to foster transparency, democracy, and the rule of law throughout Nigeria.
“A more comprehensive approach, using vehicles, such as public diplomacy and engaging outside experts to enact real changes, is how the advocacy industry is evolving,” Phil Elwood, a vice president at Levick, told The Hill. “A communications strategy alone is not enough to solve the complex and multifaceted problems facing some of the more controversial nations.”
Statement regarding the cancellation of meeting with parents of abducted Chibok children and five escapees.. (supposedly sent out by Levick)
“It now appears that our fight to get the girls of Chibok back is not only a fight against a terrorist insurgency, but also against a political opposition.
“It is with great regret that I announce the cancellation of the meeting with 12 parents of the abducted Chibock children, as well as five of the brave girls who escaped from the terrorist organization Boko Haram. I scheduled this meeting, which was to be open to the media for coverage by Nigerian and international press, to listen to their stories and to privately brief the parents and the girls on our efforts to rescue the abducted girls.
“My priority is not politics. My priority is the return of these girls.
“Unfortunately, political forces within the Nigerian chapter of Bring Back Our Girls have decided to take this opportunity to play politics with the situation and the grief of the parents and the girls. They should be ashamed of their actions.
“Those who would manipulate the victims of terrorism for their own benefit, are engaging in a similar kind of evil: psychological terrorism.
“I want to be clear, this government stands with complete solidarity with the girls and their parents. We are doing everything in our power to bring back our girls. Despite the shameful and disgusting games being played by the Nigerian chapter of Bring Back Our Girls, as a father of girls, I stand ready to meet with the parents of our abducted children and the truly brave girls that have escaped this nightmare through the grace of God.”