Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, has described as fake news a banner advert purportedly promoting Governor Seyi Makinde as a presidential hopeful in the 2023 election.
The banner advert, which was promoted on social media, on Monday, had the picture of Governor Makinde and the Nigerian flag, as well as a picture of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, allegedly promoting the presidential ambition of the governor.
In a statement issued on Monday, Adisa disclaimed the advert as one of the antics of fake news promoters, naysayers and detractors’ intent on mixing sour grapes in the basket of fruits, at a time when well-meaning citizens of Oyo State are celebrating the promotion of Shooting Stars Sports Club to the Premier League.
Adisa described as unthinkable Makinde’s launch of a 2023 presidential campaign when he had cautioned his supporters against mounting a second term campaign for him.
Adisa added that the governor’s media office keyed into the stance of Makinde that “power belongs to Almighty God and that only God knows the direction He is taking every of his creation.”
The statement read: “This is clearly the antics of purveyors of social media lapdogs, who are merely seeking to distract well-meaning people of Oyo State from the joy occasioned by the well-deserved promotion, to the Premier League, of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).
“We believe that this fraudulent post alluded to the Chief Press Secretary and Governor Makinde is the handiwork of opposition elements, as APC’s social media lapdogs widely posted the fake news on their social media accounts.
“It is the usual practice of naysayers and detractors to seek to mix sour grapes in the basket of fruits, at a time when well-meaning citizens are celebrating.
“Let it be stated clearly, however, that Governor Makinde has no hand in any such campaign for the presidency, as he has always stated that tomorrow only belongs to God.
“It is unthinkable that the governor, who has cautioned supporters against mounting a second-term campaign for him, would launch a 2023 presidential campaign at this period.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Makinde will not change his belief that power belongs to Almighty God and that only God knows the direction He is taking every of his creation.
“In the same vein, the Media Office of His Excellency has not and will not race ahead of time to promote an ambition that the governor has not declared.
“Therefore, we urge members of the public to ignore the fake news and see it as the shenanigans of a distressed opposition, which continues to show its desperation to retake power at all cost.
“Finally, members of the public are reminded that one of such callous posts by opposition elements once attempted to endanger the lives of innocent people in Oyo State at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, in May 2020, when they posted that Covid-19 restrictions had been relaxed for religious gatherings, and attributed same to the Governor’s Media Office.”
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