Report claiming that the Vice President has been refused entry to the Villa has been completely denied by the government.
The Presidency said the claims were not true, with no evidence backing them up, describing them as “totally fabricated” and with the plan of misleading the public into believing there was a disagreement between President Bola Tinubu and his deputy.
“The latest in this string of disinformation is a report claiming that the Vice President has been refused entry to the Villa.
“This is a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON. For the record, nothing of the sort ever happened,” the statement read.
The report, which went viral through “obscure blogs,” accused that the military personnel blocked the Villa entrance, effectively preventing the Vice President from entering.
Nkwocha dismissed the claim as “the wildest expression of wishful thinking” and accused those behind it of attempting to plant disagreement within the government.
The statement added, “It is understandable, though regrettable, that the mischief-makers continue to underestimate the strength of the bond and goodwill between the President and the Vice President.
“However, their questionable sources or habitual reliance on misinformation have once again led them astray. These fairy tales they publish serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction.”
The statement also recalled a similar rumour earlier in the week regarding campaign posters bearing the image of Tinubu, which was also debunked by the Presidency.
Nkwocha assured Nigerians that Shettima continues to stay focused on his duties and would not be distracted by “the imagination of individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire.”
He encouraged members of the public to disregard the rumor and charged and urged journalists to confirm the validity of information from credible sources, stating that no amount of falsehood would compromise the democratic mandate of the Tinubu administration.