Mr. Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has urged Nigerians to ignore ‘fake news’ querying the whereabouts of President Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo, stressing that both leaders are attending to official matters on how to stop the spread of coronavirus and improve the economy of the country.
Speaking on his official Instagram handle, on Saturday, Mr. Akande urged Nigerians to “continue to ignore professional conduits, who share fictions about the whereabouts of the President and the Vice – President”.
“The Critical mass of our people see both the President and the VP regularly on TV, hear them on radio, read from them in the press and observe their activities regularly on the Social Media,” he said.
The VP’s spokesman recalled that the video conferencing meeting chaired by the Vice – President on Thursday, was on the Presidential Power Reform.
The meeting also had in attendance, the Governor of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-rufai, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, and Zainab Ahmed, the Ministers of Power and Finance; respectively, as well as the the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and other government officials who discussed on how to expand electricity in the country.
Sharing photos of the VP and some of his engagements during the week, the Spokesman said
“With my boss, the Vice – President last night (Friday) in his office, reviewing some events of the week.”
“The work goes on, and Nigeria will surely prevail. We shall do it together”, he added.
In a related development, Buhari Osinbajo Solidarity Front, (BOSF) has described as regrettable and shameful the attempts by some elements to distract Nigeria’s focus on containing coronavirus pandemic by raising illegitimate concerns about the whereabouts of the President and his deputy.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator Olawale Badmus, the Buhari Osinbajo Solidarity Front, (BOSF) said it has observed that these elements have been looking for ways to ensure that they become the center of attention at a time when all hands should be on deck to fight the unseen enemy.
The group said it is also laughable that supposed adults will position themselves like kids and ask questions that even three-year old kids wouldn’t ask. BOSF said the President and Vice President are discharging their duties from their offices and it is clear for all to see.
BOSF mentioned that on Thursday, May 8th 2020, Buhari announced the appointment of the Police Trust Fund Board of Trustees while Vice President Osinbajo on same day chaired a Meeting of the President’s Power Sector Reform Working Group.
“Anyone short of those with this incredible figments of imagination can easily confirm the activities of the President and his deputy on Social Media easily. But these harbingers of hate and shameless liars are only interested in taking the society on a ride using the Social Media.”
“As anyone can see the President and his deputy are solely concerned about improving the lives of Nigerians and they have fully applied themselves to it. While most economies are grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria is doing well to stay afloat and this shows the type of work going on behind the scenes.
“Leaders across the world are leading by example by making sure they observe social distancing and self isolation when necessary. Like President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo, leaders have embraced teleconferencing as much as possible to hold meetings and provide solutions to Nigeria’s immediate problems.”
The group stressed that this was not the time for the President or Vice President to travel around the country.
“President Buhari set up a Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. The Task Force has provided daily updates to Nigerians,” BSOF said, adding that “the President also set up the Economic Sustainability Committee led by the Vice President to draw up a plan to see the economy through the fallouts of the pandemic.”
“There is no leader across the world that is commissioning projects or holding public meetings like before. Everyone is adhering to best practices at this time.
“The media and social media is awash with constant updates of the activities of both the President and Vice President, deliberately asking Where is Buhari and Osinbajo is a ploy by a jobless set of people to derail the activities of the government.
“These elements should not be paid any attention,” BSOF said, stressing that they are a distraction that Nigeria does not need at this time.
