The Presidency has dismissed reports circulating in certain media outlets that suggest a rift between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President’s spokesperson, issued a statement refuting the false claims, which he said were being spread by certain individuals with ulterior motives.
Nkwocha clarified that the Vice President had not been denied access to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as some reports had falsely suggested. He stated that these rumours were entirely fabricated and aimed at sowing discord between the two highest officials in the country.
“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. These mischievous and totally fabricated reports are all in a bid to cause confusion and insinuate total clash in the Presidency. These reports seek to mislead the public into believing there’s discord at the highest levels of government,” Nkwocha said.
The spokesperson also addressed a particular story claiming that armed military personnel had blocked the Vice President from entering the Villa, calling it an outrageous and baseless fabrication. “The recent publication by some obscure blogs alleging that armed military units have barricaded the Vice President from accessing the Presidential Villa is not only the wildest expression of wishful thinking but a clear indication that the purveyors of these tales have exhausted both ink and imagination,” he added.
Nkwocha further affirmed that there is a strong bond of unity between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, and that no amount of misinformation could break their relationship. He also referred to similar unfounded claims circulating earlier in the week, regarding campaign posters bearing the President’s image.
“These stories reflect a desperate attempt to undermine the President and his Deputy’s fidelity to the rule of law and our constitution,” he said. “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.”
The Vice President, Nkwocha stressed, remains focused on his duties and is not distracted by the false claims. He emphasized that Shettima would not be drawn into the media circus surrounding these fabricated stories.
“He 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,” Nkwocha said.
The spokesperson concluded by thanking Nigerians for their continued support of the Tinubu-led administration and urged the public to disregard the fake news. He also called on the media to rely on credible sources and approach sensational claims with caution.