Dare Babalola
The former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has denied a viral claim that he suggested a specific region should produce Nigeria’s president in 2027, calling the allegation false.
Social media reports circulated a claim that the African Democratic Congress leader said the South should take the presidency in 2027.
The reports further speculated that El-Rufai might be signalling support for Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement issued on Monday via his official X handle, El-Rufai described the trending report as “untrue” despite its wide circulation.
He emphatically stated that he had not made such remarks in any of his public speeches, media interviews, or through his verified social media platforms, dismissing the claims as unfounded.
He wrote, “My attention has been drawn to a trending fake news item alleging that I specified which region of the country should produce the president in 2027.
“This claim is untrue, despite its virality. I did not make such a statement in any of my speeches, interviews or social media posts. I maintain verifiable social media platforms where I speak my mind and express my personal views directly.
“It is also wrong and improper to attribute to me opinion articles written by other authors, even when I share such articles on my platforms as contributions to the national conversation.
“These clarifications are crucial as we confront both irresponsible politicking and the deliberate misuse of social media for the spread of fake news.
“The wilful attribution to me of claims I did not make by fake news platforms is no justification for treating such platforms with any seriousness.”
El-Rufai called on media professionals and the public to verify information before sharing or publishing, warning that the spread of unverified claims hurts society, especially when leaders and influencers fall short of this duty.
The former governor also called on all stakeholders to act responsibly in order to curb the spread of fake news and irresponsible politicking.
“In this age of turmoil and falsehood, the obligation to verify information before posting or publishing has become more important than ever. In this instance, it appears that some senior editors ignored this duty.
“Society stands to lose when media leaders align with the most irresponsible actors on social media in what can only be described as the unedifying Olympics of fiction and fakery. Everyone must live up to their responsibility.
“I wish to reiterate that no views should be attributed to me unless I have explicitly expressed them on my official social media platforms or during interviews with reputable media organisations,” the statement added.
