Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has denounced as fake a viral rumor that he declared which region of the country would produce the president in 2027.
According to reports on social media, the African Democratic Congress chieftain stated that the South will provide the president in 2027.
According to speculations, El-Rufai may be supporting Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential contender, rather than former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
El-Rufai, in a message posted on Monday via his official X (Twitter), called the trending report “untrue” despite its widespread dissemination.
The politician clarified that at no time did he make such remarks in any of his speeches, media interviews, or on his verified social media platforms.
“My attention has been drawn to a trending fake news item alleging that I specified which region of the country should produce the president in 2027.
“This claim is untrue, despite its virality. I did not make such a statement in any of my speeches, interviews, or social media posts. I maintain verifiable social media platforms where I speak my mind and express my personal views directly.
“It is also wrong and improper to attribute to me opinion articles written by other authors, even when I share such articles on my platforms as contributions to the national conversation.
“These clarifications are crucial as we confront both irresponsible politicking and the deliberate misuse of social media for the spread of fake news.
“The willful attribution to me of claims I did not make by fake news platforms is no justification for treating such platforms with any seriousness.”
He urged media professionals and the general public to always verify material before publishing or distributing it, warning that failure to do so will harm society.
El-Rufai also urged all stakeholders to take responsibility in order to reduce the propagation of fake news and irresponsible politics.
“In this age of turmoil and falsehood, the obligation to verify information before posting or publishing has become more important than ever. In this instance, it appears that some senior editors ignored this duty.
“Society stands to lose when media leaders align with the most irresponsible actors on social media in what can only be described as the unedifying Olympics of fiction and fakery. Everyone must live up to their responsibility.
“I wish to reiterate that no views should be attributed to me unless I have explicitly expressed them on my official social media platforms or during interviews with reputable media organizations,” the statement added.
