There’s No Bad Blood Between President, Vice – Presidency

By PHC Telegraph

The Presidency has denied insinuations suggesting that Nigeria’s two key leaders, the President and his Vice, who are the sole occupants of the Presidential Villa are at loggerheads.

Recent reports have claimed that the relationship between the two men has degenerated so badly.

The reports also claimed that Vice President Kashim Shettima was allegedly locked out of the Aso Villa by a group of security officials

The Presidency however acknowledged in a statement that there are attempts to create the impression that a quarrel has ensued between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

“In recent times”, said the statement, “there has been deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood against the Vice President’s person and office in many multidimensional forms.

“These mischievous and fabricated reports are all in a bid to cause confusion and insinuate a total clash in the Presidency.”

The statement signed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications who operates from the office of the Vice President observed that the intention of the spindoctors is “to mislead the public into believing there is discord at the highest levels of government.

“The latest in this string of disinformation is a report claiming that the Vice President has been refused entry to the Villa.

“This is a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON. For the record, nothing of the sort ever happened.”

According to it, “The recent publication by some obscure blogs alleging that armed military units have barricaded the Vice President from accessing the Presidential Villa is not only the wildest expression of wishful thinking but a clear indication that the purveyors of these tales have exhausted both ink and imagination.

“It is a story so far removed from reality that it can only be entertained by those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Nigerian government.

Recall that early in the week, the Presidency dispelled reports pertaining to the circulation of campaign posters which bore the image of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“These stories reflect a desperate attempt to undermine the President and his Deputy’s fidelity to the rule of law and our constitution. Let it be known that those pushing these falsehoods do so in vain.

“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”, the statement stated.

It said the fake reports which rely on “questionable sources” and habitually promotes “misinformation” have once again led the authors astray.

“These fairy tales they publish serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction.

“The Vice President remains focused on his duties and on supporting the President in achieving the aspirations of Nigerians.

“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.

“He’s not and will never partake in their media circus. It is a futile pursuit, even by the standards of the morally indifferent.

“We commend Nigerians across all divides who continue to express goodwill towards this administration and who have taken it upon themselves to fight the spread of fake news.

“Your trust and support are deeply appreciated. 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. Not under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“We encourage the public to disregard such malicious publications and the media to continue seeking information from credible sources and to approach sensational claims with the caution they deserve. This we owe ourselves collectively as a nation”, the statement added.