The media office of Atiku Abubakar, the former
vice-president, has dismissed reports that he promised to prioritise the
interests of the Yoruba ethnic group if elected president in 2027.
On Wednesday, several online reports attributed the claim to
a statement purportedly issued on Atiku’s behalf by one Kola Johnson, described
in the reports as his “media consultant”.
But in a statement on Thursday, Paul Ibe, media adviser to
the former presidential candidate, said Atiku never engaged Johnson in any
capacity, describing the report as false and misleading.
“Our findings point directly to the Presidency, which in its
desperation to smear opposition leaders, has resorted to hiring faceless
mercenaries to fabricate fake stories and circulate unauthorized statements on
Atiku,” Ibe said.
He described as “particularly offensive” the suggestion that
an Atiku administration would be dominated by one ethnic group, adding that
such disinformation was part of a wider propaganda effort.
The media aide noted that any communication from Atiku can
only be considered authentic if issued by the Atiku Media Office and signed
either by him or the former vice-president’s special assistant on public
communications.
“Atiku Abubakar has never engaged one Kola Johnson as a
media consultant, aide, or associate. Any statement issued in that name is fake
and should be disregarded. We urge media houses that have published such
falsehoods to immediately retract them,” Ibe added.
He cautioned Nigerians and the media to remain alert against
propaganda, accusing the administration of President Bola Tinubu of sponsoring
“fabricated statements” to ridicule opposition figures.
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