The media office of the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has urged Nigerians to ignore media reports targeting his relationship with the president.
Yahaya Bello is in court with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N110.4 billion fraud.
But the media office said its attention had been drawn to a report that attributed fake quotes against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to their principal.
A statement issued by the Director of the Yahaya Bello Media office, Ohiare Micheal, said, “Ordinarily, we would not have even bothered to give this any attention because no informed Nigerian would take such a ridiculous story, written by a sick mind, seriously, especially since court records are public documents.
“This clarification is, however, necessary for the record and the benefit of social media users who circulate fake news without fact-checking the details.
“The report, which is part of the desperate plot by irresponsible politicians to strain the relationship between our President and former Governor Yahaya Bello, is the most laughable twist in their failed bid to execute their bring-him-down-at-all-costs mirage.
“The Media Office of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, at this moment states that the report in circulation by one Daily Excessive blog, which quoted the former governor to have said that he would reveal to the world how President Tinubu became President, is not only misleading but also a confirmation of how unintelligent some unrelenting detractors of the former governor are.
“Every Nigerian following court proceedings since the former governor submitted himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission knows that trial has not commenced in any of the cases. Former Governor Bello has only taken his plea at both courts.
“The court is an open place where journalists and other stakeholders monitor proceedings. This is the reason no informed Nigerian would even consider opening this sick report by an “Excessive fake news purveyor” called Daily Excessive. But a ‘conquered’ mind is a sick mind, so we understand the plight of these mischief makers.
“We, however, wish to stress here that even those that the hatchet job executors are trying to confuse know that His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has great respect for the person and office of Mr. President and would never make such ridiculous remarks attributed to him against the President,” the statement said.
They said Bello would continue to support the President and his party, the All Progressives Congress, despite the misleading picture his detractors are trying so hard to paint.
“We have alerted security agencies to unveil the identities of those behind the website that was used in circulating this fake report and will ensure that the purveyors of the fake news face the legal consequences of their action,” the statement added.
