Political elements shopping for ‘pliant online media’ to launch smear campaign of calumny against Buhari – Presidency
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has exposed a game plan by some failed and yet-to-admit political elements in the country to launch a campaign of calumny against President Muhammadu Buhari.
It said in a statement sent to The DEFENDER Wednesday night that the elements are already shopping for what it called pliant online media accomplices (excluding The DEFENDER) to carryout an orchestrated campaign of calumny in the days ahead, in which President Buhari would be portrayed as not being in charge of the country.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, issued the alert, which came days after Prof. Wole Soyinka was reported in a section of the media that the President was not in charge of the country, following news about Kankara, Katsina students kidnap that was later put to naught by the Nigerian Army, a comment that, The DEFENDER reports, such elements always wait for, to leverage on, in advancing their plans, which in most cases the owner of such comment may not be aware of.
Mr. Adesina, an Igbo chief, warned Nigerians against them by being wary and discerning in what they consume as news and special reports from such online media.
According to him, they are in cahoots with agents of destabilization, seeking ultimate political gains., Mr. Femi Adesina, immediate past Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Sun Newspapers Limited and President, Nigeria Guild of Editor’s (NGE), said.
He added that money and other attractive inducements are being dangled before the online media, and that “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.”
His words in full: “Political elements shopping for online media accomplices to launch campaigns of calumny against Buhari in days ahead, Presidency alerts Nigerians
“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 orchestrated campaign of calumny in the days ahead, in which President Muhammadu 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.
“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 destabilization, 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 proceed apace, and the Buhari Administration will not be distracted, and will continue to serve with heart and might, irrespective of all shenanigans.”
