The Presidency has dismissed as false a report claiming that Vice President Kashim Shettima was barred from entering the Presidential Villa, describing the allegation as a “deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood.”
In a statement issued on Saturday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), the government condemned the report as baseless and misleading.
“This publication is a story so far removed from reality,” Nkwocha stated, adding that only those unfamiliar with the workings of government would entertain such misinformation. He urged the public to disregard the claim and advised media outlets to verify sensational reports before dissemination.
The statement further noted a recent trend of fabricated stories targeting Shettima, aimed at sowing discord within the presidency. “These mischievous reports seek to mislead the public into believing there is a clash at the highest levels of government,” Nkwocha said.
He specifically refuted a blog’s claim that military personnel blocked Shettima from accessing the villa, calling it “the wildest expression of wishful thinking” by purveyors of fake news.
The presidency also recalled dismissing similar false reports earlier in the week, including claims about campaign posters featuring President Bola Tinubu. Nkwocha emphasized that such narratives were desperate attempts to undermine the administration’s unity.
“The bond between the President and Vice President remains unshaken,” he asserted. “Shettima is focused on his duties and will not be distracted by fabricated controversies.”
Nkwocha commended Nigerians for their support in combating misinformation and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to its constitutional mandate. “No amount of falsehood can shake this government’s foundation,” he declared.
The statement concluded with a warning against further attempts to destabilize the government through misinformation, stressing that such efforts would fail.
