By Omeiza Ajayi
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ABUJA: Former vice president and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar has counselled Nigerians to not swallow hook, line and sinker some of the negative reports about him in the social media, describing them as the handiwork of his detractors.

Atiku was reacting to an online media report where he was quoted to have lauded the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu for his bravery and efforts in drawing attention to the issue of restructuring.

“It has come to the notice of the Atiku Media Office that there is an opinion article titled “IPOB: Loathe or love Kanu, he has fought better – Atiku” purportedly written and signed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007 and chieftain of All Progressives Congress in circulation”, Atiku said in a the disclaimer signed by his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the former vice president, “what started as the handiwork of mischief makers and their sponsors bent on tarnishing the reputation of the Waziri Adamawa was first noticed on chat rooms.

“But having found its way on the website of a reputable newspaper which obviously fell victim to the evil work of the scammers, the media office of the former Vice President is compelled to respond and to state as follows: That the article in circulation is unknown to Atiku Abubakar or Atiku Media Office; That His Excellency Atiku Abubakar never signed any opinion article with that title in circulation;

That this is the handiwork of evil people and their cowardly sponsors aimed at soiling the reputation of Atiku Abubakar and his political standing; That this signposts a wicked and deliberate plot to unleash media attack on Atiku Abubakar with a view to portraying him in bad light; That this is classical Fake News; “The Atiku Media Office urges Nigerians and the reading public to discountenance the article and to be vigilant as more of such diabolical stuff are underway”.

Vanguardngr