The office of the vice president has denied allegations that Vice President Kashim Shettima is being denied access to the Presidential Villa.
Senior Special Assistant to Shettima on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, described these claims as a “deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood,” aimed at creating confusion and suggesting a rift within the Presidency.
Nkwocha stated: “These mischievous and fabricated reports are all in a bid to cause confusion and insinuate a total clash in the Presidency,” emphasising that such assertions seek to mislead the public into believing that there is discord at the highest levels of government.
The latest wave of disinformation came from obscure blogs that claimed armed military units had barricaded the vice president from entering the Villa.
Nkwocha refuted this, calling it “the wildest expression of wishful thinking” and asserting that “nothing of the sort ever happened.”
He described the story as “so far removed from reality” that it could only be entertained by those unfamiliar with the workings of the Nigerian government.
Earlier this week, the Presidency also dismissed similar false reports regarding campaign posters featuring President Bola Tinubu.
Nkwocha reiterated that these stories reflect a “desperate attempt to undermine the President and his deputy’s fidelity to the rule of law and our constitution,” asserting that those propagating these falsehoods do so in vain.
Addressing the ongoing misinformation, Nkwocha noted, “It is understandable, though regrettable, that the mischief-makers continue to underestimate the strength of the bond and goodwill between the president and the vice president.”
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He added that the vice president is focused on his responsibilities and does not have time for distractions, particularly those that arise from “the imagination of individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire.”
The vice president’s office commended Nigerians for their continued goodwill towards the administration and for fighting the spread of fake news.
“Your trust and support are deeply appreciated, reinforcing the commitment of the government to uphold the democratic mandate granted by Nigerians,” the statement said.
He urged the public to disregard malicious publications and called on the media to seek information from credible sources, advising caution towards sensational claims.
The statement added that under the watch of President Tinubu, the foundation of the democratic mandate remains unshakeable despite attempts to spread misinformation.