The Presidency has strongly refuted media reports claiming that Vice President Kashim Shettima was denied access to the Presidential Villa, labeling the allegations as "mischievous" and "totally fabricated."
In a statement released on Saturday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the Presidency condemned these reports as part of a calculated attempt to sow discord within the leadership of the government. The statement emphasized that such reports were “deliberate and well-planned orchestrations of falsehood” designed to create division among the country’s top officials.
“The latest in this string of disinformation is a report claiming that the Vice President has been refused entry to the Villa. For the record, nothing of the sort ever happened,” Nkwocha said. He also dismissed the claim that armed military units blocked Shettima’s access to the seat of power, calling it "the wildest expression of wishful thinking" and a sign that the creators of the story had “exhausted both ink and imagination.”
The statement further reassured the public that Vice President Shettima continues to perform his duties diligently, working alongside President Bola Tinubu to achieve the aspirations of the Nigerian people. “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,” the statement added.
This latest response from the Presidency follows a pattern of addressing what it describes as "fake news." Earlier this week, the Presidency also dismissed reports regarding the circulation of campaign posters featuring President Tinubu, calling them politically motivated and baseless.
Nkwocha reiterated that the relationship between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima remains strong, despite ongoing efforts by some “mischief-makers” to create division. "These fairy tales they publish serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction," Nkwocha said, adding that the cooperation between the President and Vice President is solid.
The statement also thanked Nigerians who have resisted the spread of misinformation, urging the public to continue supporting the administration. “Your trust and support are deeply appreciated,” Nkwocha concluded.
He further called on media practitioners to seek information from credible sources and exercise caution when dealing with sensational claims. “No amount of falsehood or manufactured tension can shake the foundation of the democratic mandate that brought this government to power,” he affirmed, stressing the administration’s commitment to transparency and constitutional governance.
Nkwocha concluded by urging unity and vigilance in light of continued attempts to destabilize the nation through disinformation.
