The Presidency has refuted a fake statement circulating online, falsely attributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, issued a brief response on Saturday evening, categorically denying the statement’s authenticity.
"Based on recent inquiries, I wish to reiterate that this is fake and does not emanate from the Presidency," Ngelale stated.
The clarification followed numerous inquiries regarding the validity of the statement, which has gained significant traction on social media platforms. The fake message, titled "Tinubu speaks," falsely claimed that President Tinubu was pleading with the organizers of the impending protest for more time and announced a series of sweeping reforms. These supposed reforms included a 50% cut in salaries and emoluments for himself and top government officials, the scrapping of the Office of the First Lady, the sale of presidential aircraft, the consolidation of government ministries, and the restoration of fuel and electricity subsidies.
The Presidency has consistently warned against the spread of misinformation and has urged Nigerians to verify information through official channels before sharing. This latest incident underscores the ongoing challenge of combating fake news and ensuring accurate information dissemination.
