The Presidency on Wednesday raised the alarm over the alleged that some political opponents plan to sponsor smear campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari and to portray him as not being in charge of the affairs of government.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina in Abuja, saying, these politicians have been shopping for pliant online media that will serve as accomplices in their nefarious act.
Adesina claimed that these politicians’ game plan is to launch campaign of calumny in the coming days against the President.
According to him they are plotting to portray President Muhammadu Buhari would “as not being in charge of the country, a narrative already started from a procured offshore medium by the instigators.”
He further claimed that money and other attractive inducements are being offered to the online media to cook up unsubstantiated stories against the President all to sow seeds of discord and discontent in the country.
He called on Nigerians to disregard such stories when they come across them, urging them to be wary and discerning in what they consume as news.
“President Buhari remains focused and single-minded in his determination to serve the country to the best of his ability, bringing change to different facets of our national life,” Adesina said.
He said that the President’s performance in the area of infrastructure such as construction roads, rail, bridges, airports round the country and even agriculture, testify that the Buhari is in control.
“The fight against corruption, insecurity, and retooling of the economy also proceed apace, and the Buhari Administration will not be distracted, and will continue to serve with heart and might, irrespective of all shenanigans,” Adesina maintained.
Many Nigerians have questioned President Buhari’s handling of the security situation in the country as well as his handling of the economy.
Buhari has continued to retain the security chiefs in office despite the increased killings and kidnappings across Nigeria and despite admitting that their efforts at tackling the security situation were not enough.
Read Adesina’s full statement below.
The general public is hereby alerted to a smear campaign in the works against Mr President and his office, by disgruntled political elements in the country, who have been shopping for pliant online media that will serve as accomplices in their nefarious act.
The game plan is to launch orchestrated campaign of calumny in the days ahead, in which President Muhammadu Buhari would be portrayed as not being in charge of the country, a narrative already started from a procured offshore medium by the instigators.
Money and other attractive inducements are being dangled before the online media, and some of them are already complicit, cooking up stories with jejune and unsubstantiated allegations, all to sow seeds of discord and discontent in the country.
Nigerians are urged to be wary and discerning in what they consume as news and special reports from such online media, as they are in cahoots with agents of destabilisation, seeking ultimate political gains.
President Buhari remains focused and single-minded in his determination to serve the country to the best of his ability, bringing change to different facets of our national life. This is already evident in infrastructure as seen in roads, rail, bridges, airports, and many other strides round the country. Agriculture is another worthy testimonial.
The fight against corruption, insecurity, and retooling of the economy also proceed apace, and the Buhari Administration will not be distracted, and will continue to serve with heart and might, irrespective of all shenanigans.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
