Presidency Reacts to Allegation of Blocking Shettima from Aso Villa
- The presidency has dismissed the claim that Vice President Kashim Shettima was barricaded from the presidential villa
- Stanley Nkwocha, the spokesperson to the vice president, said the claim was false and only created to present a notion that there was confusion within the presidency
- The presidency further said that the latest rumour was to discredit the bond between Tinubu and his vice, Shettima
The presidency has debunked the claim that Vice President Kashim Shettima has been blocked from the presidential villa.
Source: Twitter
Why fake news about Shettima was spread?
Nkwocha maintained that the claim was to make the public believe that "there’s discord at the highest levels of government." He described the latest claim that Vice President Shettima was being blocked from the presidential villa as a "string of disinformation."
He then went further, saying, "For the record, nothing of the sort ever happened."
The presidency said that some "obscure blogs" have recently alleged that some armed military men have barricaded the vice president from having access to the presidential villa, describing the publication as "the wildest expression of wishful thinking", adding that the peddlers of such a publication have exhausted their imaginations.
He added that the claim was very far from reality and that only those who are not familiar with the inner workings of the Nigerian government would go around with such a belief.
Presidency speaks on 2027 Tinubu's campaign posters
It further explained that the presidency, earlier this week, dismissed fake news, saying that President Tinubu was responsible for the circulation of some campaign posters bearing his image. It maintained that those stories were a reflection of the move to undermine Tinubu and Shettima's fidelity to the rule of law and the constitution. The government then said those pushing such narratives were working in vain.
The presidency then lamented that the "mischief-makers" have continued to underestimate the bond and understanding between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima. It added that they have been led astray by their questionable sources or regular reliance on misinformation. It noted that the narratives they were pushing serve no purpose except distraction and mischief.
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Expert faults presidency’s tone, strategy, and lack of specifics
A political communication expert, Dr. Toks Oguntuga, has criticised the presidency’s response to rumours that Vice President Kashim Shettima was barred from the Aso Rock Villa.
“It is a fair attempt at debunking the rumour, but the response could have been better crafted,” Oguntuga told Legit.ng.
“The tone of the language employed is too combative and emotional. Words like ‘feeble attempt to traduce,’ ‘exhausted both ink and imagination,’ ‘morally indifferent,’ and ‘media circus’ give off defensiveness and even petulance.”
“A response that seeks to rise above the noise, rather than wallow in it, would have been more statesmanlike and reassuring.”
Oguntuga noted that the statement spent more time attacking rumour peddlers than calmly addressing the claim.
“That gives the impression that the story might have struck a nerve. A response that long and angry risks validating the rumour’s potency,” he said.
He also faulted the statement for lacking factual anchors.
“For an issue as serious as barring a Vice President from Aso Rock, the response could have helped anchor the refutation with facts. For example, ‘The Vice President chaired XYZ meeting at the Villa on the same day in question’ would have shut down speculation more effectively than name-calling.”
The strategic communication expert added that the presidency missed a key communication opportunity.
“A good crisis response doesn’t only debunk — it uses the moment to reinforce values, achievements, or unity. This press statement missed the opportunity to pivot to accomplishments or highlight a recent show of executive synergy,” he concluded.
Tinubu meets APC governors
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu presided over the maiden edition of the APC National Caucus meeting at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Since Tinubu resumed office on May 29, the high-level meeting was attended by key APC leaders, including the national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and governors elected on the APC platform were all in attendance.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a political communication expert for this report.
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Source: Legit.ng
