Fake news now influences outcome of elections, says Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says fake news now influences the outcome of elections.

The acting president said this at the course 25 graduation ceremony of the National Defence College in Abuja on Friday.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had blamed caustic citizens’ criticism of the government on the spread of fake news. In a statement issued last week, he said the government was training its staff to combat the menace.

Speaking at the event, Osinbajo said with the internet fake news now influences the outcome of elections. He said this against the background of the changing nature of warfare.

“We have to redefine a post-oil Nigeria. With the changes and advances in technology we have no option than to adjust our realities to them,” he said.

“There are now hackers who could damage far more than convention arms. Here, once degraded, Boko Haram has resorted to cowardly suicide bombers.
“Terrorists now have access to quick release of propaganda videos, not possible before. Even with internet, fake news influence election outcome.

“The battle has changed and our military must be at cutting edge of technology. It is much easier to neutralise terrorists than their ideology.

“We must not wait until things have fallen apart before we show our people we care. We must prepare ahead before conflicts reveal themselves.”

In the US, Donald Trump accuses some media organisations of spreading fake news to stoke citizen angst against him.