A former Abia governor Ogbonnaya Onu has denied the allegation that President Muhammadu Buhari called him before appointing Babachir Lawal as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Rumors had it that Onu, an APC chieftain, was favored by Buhari to emerge as the SGF. Then after Lawal’s appointment, Onu reportedly told a friend that Buhari called him upfront to say he would not be named SGF.

Onu has refuted that. Read his media team’s statement below.

“In the Facebook post, Dr. Onu was falsely and perhaps, maliciously credited as having told an unnamed friend of Mr. Ajayi Temitope in a 35-minute telephone conversation that prior to the announcement of appointments into the offices of Chief of Staff to the President, SGF, among other positions, he (Dr. Onu) was informed by Mr. President of his intended action and why he would not be chosen for appointment as the SGF.

“The Facebook broadcast further falsely credited Dr. Onu with expressing regrets about how his Abuja residence had become “a Mecca of sorts” for those seeking patronage from him in anticipation of his appointment as the SGF and lamented that soon after the announcement was made without his being appointed to serve in the exalted capacity, his residence became deserted.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it has become important to state in strong terms that Dr. Onu never expressed the views credited to him in the Facebook broadcast, as no such conversation ever took place between him and our respected Mr. President,” the statement read.

Janeth J