There Are Ongoing Efforts To Tarnish Buhari’s Image – Presidency

The presidency has asserted that some adversaries of President Muhammadu Buhari have launched a campaign of calumny aimed at smearing his reputation.

Ekohotblog reports that Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, made assertion in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement from the presidency is prompted by a trenchant and dispassionate editorial published on Tuesdayeditorial published on Tuesday by renowned business newspaper, Financial Times.

The newspaper had said all indices of a well governed nation are elusive in Nigeria, noting that Nigeria is on the verge of becoming a failed nation as it teeters on the brink of collapse.

But in the statement on Wednesday, Adesina said there were schemes and underhand tactics to portray Buhari as incapable of managing the country’s affairs.

Adesina implored the public to be mindful of such reports, adding that the intention of those behind was to denigrate the president and make him unpopular among the citizenry.

“The general public is hereby alerted to a smear campaign in the works against Mr President and his office, by disgruntled political elements in the country, who have been shopping for pliant online media that will serve as accomplices in their nefarious act,” the statement read.

He said the strategy is to launch a coordinated “campaign of calumny”  in which President Muhammadu Buhari would be made to come across incompetent and ineptitude.

According to him, plans have been put to motion with the engagement of the service of foreign medium by the instigators.

Adesina said Money and other enticing offer are being used to co-opt online media into the smear campaign, adding that some media outfit are already doing the biddings of the masterminds of anti-Buhari narrative as they have been found fabricating stories with infantile and “unsubstantiated allegations”, with the aim off instigating disunity and discontent in the nation.

“Nigerians are urged to be wary and discerning in what they consume as news and special reports from such online media, as they are in cahoots with agents of destabilization, seeking ultimate political gains.”

Adesina averred that Buhari remains unwavering focused in his determination to serve the country to the best of his ability.

“This is already evident in infrastructure as seen in roads, rail, bridges, airports, and many other strides round the country. Agriculture is another worthy testimonial,” he said.

He added that anti-graft war, insecurity, and efforts to place the economy on sound footing have not lost momentum, saying the “Buhari Administration will not be distracted, and will continue to serve with heart and might, irrespective of all shenanigans.”