The Presidency has rejected reports claiming that Vice President Kashim Shettima was denied access to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, describing the allegations as false and misleading.
In a statement released on Saturday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), the Presidency denounced the claims as “completely fabricated” and said they were aimed at creating the false impression of a rift between President Bola Tinubu and his deputy.
The statement, titled “Re: Mischievous Report On Access To The Presidential Villa By Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON,” clarified that the recent report, which spread through “obscure blogs,” was a baseless attempt to undermine Vice President Shettima and his office.
The report falsely alleged that military personnel had blocked the entrance to the Villa, preventing Shettima from entering.
“This is a weak attempt to tarnish the reputation of Vice President Kashim Shettima. For the record, nothing of this nature occurred,” the statement said.
Nkwocha dismissed the allegations as “the wildest expression of wishful thinking,” accusing those responsible of trying to create divisions within the government.
He emphasized that the bond between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima remains strong, despite the attempts to sow discord.
The statement also referenced a similar rumor earlier in the week regarding campaign posters featuring President Tinubu, which had also been debunked by the Presidency.
Nkwocha reassured Nigerians that Vice President Shettima remains focused on his responsibilities and will not be distracted by baseless rumors.
He urged the public to disregard such reports and reminded journalists to rely on credible sources when verifying information. The statement concluded that no amount of falsehood would shake the democratic mandate of the Tinubu administration.
