SAN FRANCISCO, December 24, (THEWILL) – The Presidency has alerted Nigerians to a scheme by those it called disgruntled politicians to launch a smear campaign against President Buhari.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the Presidency alleged that the sponsors of the scheme had started engaging the services of some media outlets to execute the scheme.
The statement said: “The general public is hereby alerted to a smear campaign in the works against Mr. President and his office by disgruntled political elements in the country, who have been shopping for pliant online media that will serve as accomplices in their nefarious act.
“The game plan is to launch an orchestrated campaign of calumny in the days ahead, in which President Buhari would be portrayed as not being in charge of the country, a narrative already started from a procured offshore medium by the instigators.
“Money and other attractive inducements are being dangled before the online media, and some of them are already complicit, cooking up stories with jejune and unsubstantiated allegations, all to sow seeds of discord and discontent in the country.”
The Presidency said the Buhari administration had not flinched in its commitment to redeeming Nigeria and setting the country on the path of growth.
It cited the successes in the infrastructure and imputes into the economic and security sectors as instances.
“Nigerians are urged to be wary and discerning in what they consume as news and special reports from such online media, as they are in cahoots with agents of destabilisation, seeking ultimate political gains.
“President Buhari remains focused and single-minded in his determination to serve the country to the best of his ability, bringing change to different facets of our national life.
“This is already evident in infrastructure as seen in roads, rail, bridges, airports, and many other strides round the country. Agriculture is another worthy testimonial.
“The fight against corruption, insecurity, and retooling of the economy also proceeds apace, and the Buhari administration will not be distracted, and will continue to serve with heart and might, irrespective of all shenanigans”, the statement added.
About the Author
Amos Esele is the Deputy Editor of THEWILL Newspaper. He has over two decades of experience on the job.
