FAKE NEWS ALERT: Sultan did not endorse Obi for presidency, says aide

Muhammad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, has distanced himself from a statement claiming he has endorsed Peter Obi, standard bearer of the Labour Party (LP).

A statement in circulation on social media has claimed that the Sultan has endorsed the presidential bid of the LP candidate.

In a statement on Thursday, Bashir Adefaka, an aide to Sultan, said the Sultan did not endorse the presidential bid of Peter Obi.

According to Adefaka, the circulating statement falsely attributed to the Sultan reads: “The problem of the North is from the north, not Peter Obi or an Igbo man, it will be worst and more deadly for the North if Tinubu wins, if they tell you an Igbo man is the problem of Nigeria, tell them Igbo man never rule Nigeria before and north is world poverty capital.”

He said the statement attributed to the Sultan is “fake and should not be dignified”.

Adefaka said the Sultan’s “discipline and commitment to Nigeria is non-negotiable”, adding that the Sultan “is not a politician”.

“The attention of the Media Team of Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, has been drawn to a statement circulating on social media titled, ‘BREAKING: SULTAN OF SOKOTO WRITES’ with an opening credited to Sultan purportedly saying, ‘Hold me responsible if Peter Obi didn’t perform well’,” the statement partly reads.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the statement is fake because such an irresponsible write-up, credited to him, could not have emanated from anywhere near or around His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

“Between Wednesday and Thursday, the Sultan played host to several figures including the outgoing and new General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Eighth Division Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Major Generals O. Bassey and Godwin Mutkut, respectively, Vice Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima, among others.

“It would interest Nigerians to know that Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Peter Obi, was not one of those that paid visit to the palace, be it on Wednesday or Thursday.

“More important to Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar at this time and always are security, peace and unity of Nigeria, especially as the nation is fast moving into its long planned and heavily invested general elections.”