Atiku accuses presidency of engaging in high-level propaganda against him

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has cautioned Nigerians, especially the media, to remain vigilant against the propaganda schemes of the present All Progressives Congress, APC, administration, which has been circulating fabricated statements on his behalf through compromised journalists to ridicule him.
Atiku said this in a statement on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Ibe in Abuja.
This disinformation, according to the former Vice President, is part of a calculated propaganda project designed to ridicule Atiku in the media.
‘Let it be clear: Atiku Abubakar has never engaged one Kola Johnson as a media consultant, aide, or associate. Any statement issued in that name is fake and should be disregarded.
“We urge media houses that have published such falsehoods to immediately retract them”, the statement said.
The statement by Ibe reads in full, “We have observed with concern a certain self-styled “media consultant,” one Kola Johnson, issuing press releases in the name of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“Our findings point directly to the Presidency, which in its desperation to smear opposition leaders, has resorted to hiring faceless mercenaries to fabricate fake stories and circulate unauthorized statements on Atiku.
“Particularly offensive is the false claim attributed to this individual that an Atiku administration would be dominated by a single ethnic group.
“This disinformation is part of a calculated propaganda project designed to ridicule Atiku in the media.
“Let it be clear: Atiku Abubakar has never engaged one Kola Johnson as a media consultant, aide, or associate. “Any statement issued in that name is fake and should be disregarded.
We urge media houses that have published such falsehoods to immediately retract them.
“We caution Nigerians, especially the media, to remain vigilant against the propaganda schemes of the Tinubu administration, which now include circulating fabricated statements through compromised journalists.
“For the record, authentic information from Atiku Abubakar is only released through the Atiku Media Office, signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, or the Special Assistant on Public Communications.
“Editors and media gatekeepers are strongly advised to verify with the AMO before publication”, the statement concluded.