By Patrick Idowu
Vice President Kashim Shettima has firmly refuted viral online claims that he was barred from accessing the Presidential Villa, describing the reports as “mischievous fabrications” designed to sow discord within the Presidency.
The rebuttal came on Saturday through his spokesperson, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, following a late Friday night report by an obscure online platform alleging that Shettima was denied entry into Aso Rock and confined to his residence pending President Bola Tinubu’s return from an overseas trip.
Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), said the claim was part of a “deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood” targeting the Vice President.
“These mischievous and totally fabricated reports are all in a bid to cause confusion and insinuate a clash at the highest levels of government,” he stated. “Nothing of the sort ever happened.”
He described the story of armed military units barricading the Vice President from the villa as “a wild expression of wishful thinking” by those unfamiliar with the inner workings of governance, asserting that such falsehoods were the product of desperation.
Nkwocha also linked the development to earlier fake news involving campaign posters bearing both President Tinubu’s and Shettima’s images, calling it part of a broader effort to undermine the unity and loyalty within the nation’s leadership.
“These fairy tales serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction. The bond between the President and the Vice President remains strong and intact,” he said.
He further assured Nigerians that Shettima is focused on delivering on his duties and supporting the President’s vision, adding that neither the Presidency nor its principal officers would be distracted by baseless rumours.
“The Vice President does not have the luxury of time for distractions born out of the imagination of those intent on creating smoke where there is no fire,” he noted.
The Presidency urged citizens and media professionals to verify information from credible sources and avoid amplifying sensational claims.
