Jackson Ude
By Akeem Atoyebi
Since some blogs published reports that the Nigerian Army placed Jackson Ude, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, on its most wanted list, many have been wondering whether the reports are genuine or fake.
According to the report, Ude is being accused of planning a mutiny, overthrowing the democratically elected government, and inciting anarchy.
Analysts believe that the declaration might not be unconnected with a recent publication declaring the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja dead and calling for a military coup in the country.
Ude’s alleged crimes include sponsoring bandits and Boko Haram, creating unrest in the region, and stealing gold from the Central Bank of Libya, currently under investigation by the Libyan government all of which the Ude has denied.
The purported Army’s declaration though highlights Ude’s actions as a significant threat to national security, fueling insecurity and betraying the trust of millions of Nigerians striving for peace, but many analysts are worried that the army publication was not signed, raising significant question as to the authenticity of it, given the long standing tradition of military communication.
There are concerns that it might have emanated from a faceless people that used the insignia of the army to declare him wanted.
Although, there are reports that Ude’s lawyer has commenced moves to write the military authorities to confirm the authenticity of the mugshot and possibly take legal action against the peddlers of the mugshot.
If indeed it emanated from the Army, many legal minds are saying the right and proper thing to do is to file a legal action against him for defamation or cyberstaking and not to declare him wanted for writing a story and promoting same on Twitter. To declare a Journalist wanted for writing a story is ill- conceived and not proper.
Ude has released a statement indicating that the Defence minister has distanced himself from report purporting to have declared pUde wanted for treason.
“Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has told me he is not aware I have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Army or any other armed forces in Nigeria.
“As I began plans to brief my lawyers here in the United States to begin the process of suing the Federal Government of Nigeria, Defence Headquarters, Minister of Defence, Minister of State, Defence and outlets that published my mugshot and flyer purportedly from the Army alleging I have been declared wanted, I reached out to the senior Defence Minister, who told me he is unaware of such.
“A Major in the Legal Department of the Army Headquarters also debunked the mugshot and said “this cannot be NA publication. Such can only be routed through the DHQ”
“How then would someone like me be declared wanted for serious crimes such as terrorism, coup, anarchy, etc, and a Defence Minister not aware?
“Well, the answer confirms that a serving Minister is the one who has raised the bar of impunity, using his propaganda machineries to illegally use Army logo, produce my mugshot and flyer declaring me wanted. His footprints are all over it?”
It must be noted that in spite of his sojourn in the US, Ude continues to write critique of the preceding and current administrations ,but it’s believed that the authorities are not comfortable with his criticism, as they say he continues to make “unfounded” claims against the government and its officials on Twitter.
There are unsubstantiated allegations that the veteran journalist is being bankrolled by a governor from the northwest, collaborating with retired former generals.
This alleged backing raises concerns about the extent of Ude’s influence.
How far this allegations can go in the law court remains to be seen, as many people interviewed believed Ude is being attacked on account of his vibrancy and ability to expose corrupt Nigerians and the authorities are not comfortable with this.
The Nigerian Army’s declaration underscores the severity of Ude’s alleged offenses and the need for swift action to prevent further instability in the region.
Ude, who is a former Director of Strategy and Communication to President Goodluck Jonathan Jackson Ude is a long distance runner.
He had earlier been conferred with the Peace Ambassador award of Centre for Peace Studies (CPS), Sri Lanka.
The award conferred on the veteran Journalist by the independence juries of the Centre for Peace Studies is a as a result of his outstanding contribution to the media, his fight against corruption and advocacy for good governance and democracy.
The laurel bestowed on Ude according to the letter signed by Prof Dr. Riyas Sulaima Lebbe, Executive Director CPS is to promote United Nations sustainable development goal 2030 as volunteer worldwide and to create a better world for future generation. The top-rated journalist was nominated by Dr. Charles Wratto.
CPS also urged Ude to stand up for those suffering in the world and to make urgent progress towards a peaceful resolution adding that in doing so, the CPS can give meaning to its vision of a “Reconciliation through Tolerance” that will act in the collective interest and fulfill every humans responsibilities on the land.
CPS, Sri Lanka which is committed to peace and human security has over 100 Peace Ambassadors in 22 countries.
The CPS-Peace Ambassador of the year 2019 award is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 5, 2019 in Colombo, Sri Lanka at the BMICH (Jasmin Hall) at 2.30PM.
Ude, who has over 25years of experience within Nigeria and the United States was born in Amurie, Nkporo in Ohafia Local government of Abia State, Nigeria.
He fled Nigeria in 2002 after his life was threatened over an investigative news story, he authored published in the defunct Post Express Newspapers, which angered the then Government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Ude was immediately granted Asylum in the United States where he continued his Journalism career.
He thereafter enrolled at the City University of New York, Lehman College, where he obtained two bachelor’s degrees in mass communications, Multi-Lingual Journalism with Special Interest in Chinese Mandarin, Portuguese and French and African American Studies from Lehman College, City University of New York, CUNY.
He was elected the Student Union President of CUNY, Lehman College. While as a student, Jackson Ude had served as an Advisor/Member to the University Student Senate, New York. He also served as the Coordinator of City University of New York students for the Obama Presidential Campaign where he travelled and campaigned for the U.S President in Michigan, Philadelphia Massachusetts and New York.
Ude completed a full-time Master’s degree in Political Management at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, where he undertook advanced studies in political strategy, political marketing and strategic communications.
Immediately after graduate studies, Jackson Ude was invited by the Government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2013 to work as Director of Strategy and Digital Communications in the Presidency.
Ude is the Publisher/Founder of www.pointblanknews.com, a flagship anti-corruption news website that has exposed corruption in Nigeria since its inception in 2007. He has used his website to fight corruption and expose stealing of public funds by Government officials and politicians in Nigeria. He is an advocate of Good Governance, democracy and rule of law
He worked with some Newspapers in New York including as a Staff Reporter with Bronx Journals. He also worked with African Abroad Newspapers, New York as an Assistant Editor.
Jackson Ude had also worked as a Civil Servant in the U.S and with several Health Insurance Companies in New York and with the New York Department of Health and Hospital Management.
