Report by Bello Wakili; Editing by Basirat Memudu
The Presidency has strongly denied reports suggesting that Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, was recently barred from entering the Presidential Villa, describing the claim as mischievous, fabricated and completely false.
A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said the report, circulated by obscure blogs, is part of a series of orchestrated falsehoods targeted at sowing discord between the President and his Deputy.
“This is a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima. For the record, NOTHING OF THE SORT EVER HAPPENED,” the statement emphasizes.
Nkwocha said the story alleging that armed military personnel prevented the Vice President from accessing the Villa is not only far-fetched but also reveals a lack of understanding of the inner workings of government.
It is the wildest expression of wishful thinking and a clear indication that the purveyors of these tales have exhausted both ink and imagination, the statement says.
“This is not the first time the Presidency has dismissed similar reports. Just days earlier, it debunked fake news surrounding the circulation of campaign posters bearing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s image. The Presidency believes such falsehoods are desperate attempts to undermine the unity and fidelity of the country’s leadership.
“The Vice President remains focused on his duties and on supporting the President in achieving the aspirations of Nigerians. He does not have the luxury of time for distractions”, the statement adds.
Nkwocha commended Nigerians who continue to express support for the Tinubu-Shettima administration and urged the media to seek information from credible sources and exercise caution in reporting sensational claims.
“The covenant between this government and the citizens of Nigeria was made possible through a legitimate and constitutional process. No amount of falsehood or manufactured tension can shake the foundation of that democratic mandate,” the statement concludes.