Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed as false a viral claim suggesting he stated which region of Nigeria should produce the president in 2027.
Reports circulating on social media alleged that the African Democratic Congress chieftain said it is the South’s turn to produce the president and hinted that he may support Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement released on Monday via his official X handle, El-Rufai described the trending report as “untrue,” clarifying that he has never made such remarks in speeches, interviews, or on his verified social media accounts.
“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,” he said.
El-Rufai also emphasised that it is improper to attribute opinion articles by other authors to him, even when he shares such articles on his platforms as contributions to public discourse.
“These clarifications are crucial as we confront both irresponsible politicking and the deliberate misuse of social media for the spread of fake news. The wilful attribution to me of claims I did not make by fake news platforms is no justification for treating such platforms with any seriousness,” he added.
He urged media professionals and the public to verify information before publication or sharing, warning that society suffers when influencers and journalists fail in this responsibility.
“In this age of turmoil and falsehood, the obligation to verify information before posting or publishing has become more important than ever. 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,” he said.
El-Rufai concluded by reiterating that no views should be attributed to him unless explicitly expressed on his official social media platforms or during interviews with reputable media organisations.
