*The Federal Government encourages Nigerians and the general public to disregard malicious publications claiming that Vice-President Kashim Shettima has been refused entry to the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, urging the media to continue seeking information from credible sources

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Nigerian Presidency has clarified that publications by some 鈥榦bscure blogs鈥� alleging that armed military units have barricaded Vice-President Kashim Shettima from accessing the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, FCT, are not only the wildest expression of wishful thinking but a clear indication that the purveyors of these tales have exhausted both ink and imagination.

The Presidency, at the weekend, noted that in recent times, there has been deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood against the Vice-President’s person and office in many multidimensional forms.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President) Saturday, April 19 stated: 鈥淭hese mischievous and fabricated reports are all in a bid to cause confusion and insinuate a total clash in the Presidency.

鈥淭hese reports seek to mislead the public into believing there鈥檚 discord at the highest levels of government.

鈥淭he latest in this string of disinformation is a report claiming that the Vice-President has been refused entry to the Villa.鈥�

Nkwocha stated: 鈥淭his is a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, GCON.

鈥淔or the record, 鈥楴othing Of The Sort Ever Happened.鈥� 鈥�

The statement also noted that the misrepresentation is 鈥渁 story so far removed from reality that it can only be entertained by those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Nigerian government.鈥�

The Presidential media aide further said: 鈥淓arlier this week, the Presidency dismissed similar fake news regarding responsibility for the circulation of campaign posters bearing the images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

鈥淭hese stories reflect a desperate attempt to undermine the President and his Deputy’s fidelity to the rule of law and our constitution.

鈥淟et it be known that those pushing these falsehoods do so in vain.

鈥淚t 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.鈥�

The statement as well clarified: 鈥淗owever, their questionable sources or habitual reliance on misinformation have once again led them astray.

鈥淭hese fairy tales they publish serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction.

鈥淭he Vice-President remains focused on his duties and on supporting the President in achieving the aspirations of Nigerians.

鈥淗e does not have the luxury of time for distractions, particularly those born of the imagination of individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire.鈥�

鈥淗e鈥檚 not and will never partake of their media circus. It is a futile pursuit, even by the standards of the morally indifferent.鈥�

Nkwocha further said: 鈥淲e commend Nigerians across all divides who continue to express goodwill towards this administration, and who have taken it upon themselves to fight the spread of fake news. Your trust and support are deeply appreciated.

鈥淭he covenant between this government and the citizens of Nigeria was made possible through a legitimate and constitutional process.鈥�

He added: 鈥淣o amount of falsehood or manufactured tension can shake the foundation of that democratic mandate. Not under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

鈥淲e encourage the public to disregard such malicious publications and the media to continue seeking information from credible sources and to approach sensational claims with the caution they deserve. This we owe ourselves collectively as a nation.鈥�