The Presidency has firmly denied reports that Vice President Kashim Shettima was denied access to the Presidential Villa, describing the claim as completely false and mischievous.
The clarification came in a statement released on Saturday by Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President).
The statement, titled ‘Re: Mischievous Report On Access To The Presidential Villa By Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON’, dismissed the reports as fabricated and misleading.
“The latest in this string of disinformation is a report claiming that the Vice President has been refused entry to the Villa,” the statement read.
“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 rumour, which originated from unnamed blogs, alleged that military operatives had blocked the Vice President from entering the Villa. But the Presidency insists the story is entirely baseless.
Nkwocha didn’t hold back in his response, calling the story “the wildest expression of wishful thinking” and accusing those behind it of trying to drive a wedge between President Bola Tinubu and Shettima.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
He also referenced a similar rumour earlier in the week about campaign posters featuring President Tinubu, which was equally debunked.
Nkwocha reassured the public that Vice President Shettima remains undistracted and committed to fulfilling his responsibilities.
“The imagination of individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire” would not derail his focus, he emphasized.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the rumour and advised media professionals to verify information from reliable and credible sources, adding that no volume of misinformation would dent the legitimacy of the Tinubu administration.
