A gathering of some northern leaders
Some political and social leaders in Nigeria are spreading ”fake” news about the President Muhammadu Buhari administration due to their ”selfish” interest, the Presidency has said.
This is a response to a call by leaders of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Pan Niger Delta Forum that the President should stop the rising spate of killings across the country or quit.
The leaders made the call on Wednesday, after a meeting in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
They also urged the current federal government to address the issue of federalism and restructuring in Nigeria.
But the Presidency faulted their calls.
Buhari’s media aide Garba Shehu considered the calls “as the shedding of crocodile tears by selfish leaders.”
The President’s aide said, “The Presidency notes with dismay that the refrain about President Muhammadu Buhari not doing anything about security in the country had turned into the number one fake news item being peddled in the media.”
He also said, “We advise Nigerians to read Adesina’s statement if they haven’t yet, or re-read it for better understanding of the efforts to ensure peace in the country.
“It is sad and misleading for anyone to say that President Muhammadu Buhari had not responded to the security challenges in the country.
“No one can honestly say that President Muhammadu Buhari is doing nothing about security. It’s just a fake news item being peddled by selfish politicians with vested interests in keeping Nigerians incensed, and it risks being entrenched as reality if we don’t educate ourselves with the truth.”