Atiku Abubakar
The media office of Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president, has dismissed reports that he promised to prioritise the interests of the Yoruba ethnic group if elected president in 2027.
On Wednesday, several online reports attributed the claim to a statement purportedly issued on Atiku’s behalf by one Kola Johnson, described in the reports as his “media consultant”.
But in a statement on Thursday, Paul Ibe, media adviser to the former presidential candidate, said Atiku never engaged Johnson in any capacity, describing the report as false and misleading.
“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 unauthorised statements on Atiku,” Ibe said.
Advertisement
He described as “particularly offensive” the suggestion that an Atiku administration would be dominated by one ethnic group, adding that such disinformation was part of a wider propaganda effort.
The media aide noted that any communication from Atiku can only be considered authentic if issued by the Atiku Media Office and signed either by him or the former vice-president’s special assistant on public communications.
“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,” Ibe added.
Advertisement
He cautioned Nigerians and the media to remain alert against propaganda, accusing the administration of President Bola Tinubu of sponsoring “fabricated statements” to ridicule opposition figures.
