Presidency Debunks Allegations of Rift, Affirms Strong Tinubu-Shettima Relationship
ABUJA/Nigeria:The Presidency has firmly debunked recent reports suggesting a rift between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing the stories as mischievous fabrications aimed at misleading the public and creating an illusion of discord at the highest levels of government.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, dismissed as false and baseless a report alleging that the Vice President was barred from accessing the Presidential Villa. He described the story as the “wildest expression of wishful thinking” and a “clear indication that the purveyors of these tales have exhausted both ink and imagination.”
“For the record, nothing of the sort ever happened,” Nkwocha stated, emphasizing that Vice President Shettima continues to perform his duties seamlessly, with full support from the President and the administration.
He noted that the latest falsehood is part of a growing pattern of orchestrated fake news targeted at causing confusion within the Presidency and misleading the public into believing there is friction between the nation’s two top leaders. Earlier in the week, he recalled, the Presidency similarly dismissed fake news regarding campaign posters bearing the images of President Tinubu.
Nkwocha stressed that these persistent falsehoods reflect a desperate attempt to undermine the firm bond between the President and the Vice President, noting that those spreading the rumors are motivated by mischief and a poor grasp of the reality of governance.
“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,” he said. “Their questionable sources and habitual reliance on misinformation have once again led them astray.”
He reaffirmed that Vice President Shettima remains fully committed to supporting the President in delivering on the aspirations of Nigerians and has no time for distractions born out of the imagination of those “intent on creating smoke where there is no fire.”
According to him, the Vice President is focused on helping the administration achieve its mandate and will not be drawn into what he described as a “media circus” orchestrated by elements desperate to destabilize the government.
Nkwocha commended Nigerians across political, ethnic, and religious divides who have continued to express goodwill towards the administration and have taken it upon themselves to fight the spread of fake news.
“The covenant between this government and the citizens of Nigeria was made possible through a legitimate and constitutional process. No amount of falsehood or manufactured tension can shake the foundation of that democratic mandate,” Nkwocha assured.
He urged members of the public to disregard the malicious publications and called on the media to seek credible sources of information and treat sensational claims with the caution and professional responsibility they deserve.
