Presidency Alleges Fresh Plot To Use Bloggers, Newspapers To Tarnish Buhari’s Image

The Presidency has raised a fresh alarm over an alleged plot to launch coordinated media attacks against President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Presidency claimed that those behind the alleged plot had hired online bloggers and newspaper through which they intend to disseminate editorials and other publications against the Buhari administration.

THE WHISTLER recalls that the Presidency had made a similar claim on December 23 after the Financial Times published an editorial that said the country was “going backwards economically” under Buhari’s watch, adding that “carjacking, kidnapping and banditry are among Nigeria’s rare growth industries.”

In its renewed claim on Friday, the Presidency, in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, alleged that “another orchestrated smear campaign” against President was underway.

“The campaign, scheduled to be launched anytime soon through editorials and purported special investigative stories, is designed to further exacerbate tension in the land, by portraying the President as pandering to ethnic and other primordial tendencies, contrary to his pledge to belong to all Nigerians.

“Impeccable security findings indicate that those behind the plot have procured online blogs and newspapers, which are to launch coordinated publications, alleging subjugation and suppression of a particular religion and ethnic groups,” said Adesina.

Adesina, who didn’t back his claims with any evidence, further alleged that one of the mediums allegedly being used by the President’s disparagers had already contacted some opinion leaders that are “very critical of President Buhari” for the job.

“Part of the planned publication is to make unwary readers believe that the President has continually used the powers of his office to shield and protect an ethnic group against crimes of murder, kidnappings, rape and banditry in the southern, middle belt and some northern states.

“The publication will also refer Nigerians to a 58-page document, which chronicles purported atrocities of the ethnic group in the South since 2017, all of which it claims the Presidency has turned blind eyes to.

“Again, the hatchet job will allege that the President has continued to place members of his ethnic nationality in sensitive positions, so as to confer undue advantage on them. This allegation is by no means supported with reasonable facts and figures,” said the presidential aide.