The Atiku Media Office has accused the Presidency of orchestrating a campaign of “high-level propaganda and disinformation” against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Atiku Media Office has accused the Presidency of orchestrating a campaign of “high-level propaganda and disinformation” against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, dismissed claims circulated by a self-styled “media consultant,” one Kola Johnson, as false and malicious.
“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 alleged.
He described as “particularly offensive” a false claim attributed to Johnson that an Atiku administration would be dominated by a single ethnic group.
“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,” the statement said.
The Media Office further cautioned journalists and editors to verify any information purportedly coming from Atiku. “For the record, authentic information from Atiku Abubakar is only released through the Atiku Media Office, signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, or the Special Assistant on Public Communications,” the statement clarified.
It urged Nigerians “to remain vigilant against the propaganda schemes of the Tinubu administration, which now include circulating fabricated statements through compromised journalists.”