Dare Babalola
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports that he promised to prioritise the interests of the Yoruba ethnic group if elected president in 2027.
Recall that some online publications on Wednesday had claimed that one Kola Johnson, described in the reports as Atiku’s “media consultant” made the pledge.
However, the former presidential candidate’s media office dismissed the claim in a statement by Paul Ibe, Atiku’s media adviser, on Thursday.
The statement 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.
