Coalition: Saraki Debunks Circulating Fabricated Story, Urges Public to Disregard False Claims
By Omowumi Omotosho
Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has issued a strong rebuttal to a recent story published in a national newspaper, describing it as a fabrication devoid of any connection to the former lawmaker.
In a statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu on behalf of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, the report in question was said to rely on unnamed sources and unverifiable claims, falsely linking Saraki to comments made during a purported Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders’ meeting in Ilorin.
“It should be noted that the reporter of the story quoted unnamed sources and faceless individuals who he claimed attended a meeting with Dr. Saraki. He also sought the opinions of people who he did not tell the detail of the story he wanted them to respond to,” the statement read.
The statement further dismissed the content of the report as “permutations, projections, and calculations” by individuals attempting to explain Saraki’s recent silence on coalition talks among politicians.
“We believe his story came from his misconception of why Dr. Saraki has refused to associate with or comment on the ongoing efforts by some politicians to form a coalition. It is equally obvious that he simply decided to package as a news story the permutations, projections, and calculations of some individuals who believe they could proffer a reason for the quiet stance of the former Senate President.
“Anybody who has associated closely with Dr. Saraki will know that either in the public or private space, he does not speak carelessly and in a manner that can expose him to ridicule. He is always a careful and frugal speaker. The views expressed in that news story and the concocted graphic design in circulation do not represent the position of Dr. Saraki. He has nothing to do with them,” the statement further emphasized.
The statement also condemned efforts by political opponents in Kwara State to manipulate the article’s content for political gain, including the creation and circulation of graphic designs bearing fabricated quotes.
Saraki therefore urged political associates, supporters, and the general public to treat both the newspaper story and its altered online versions as “false claims” and to “disregard and ignore” them.
“We, therefore, call on well-meaning Nigerians to disregard and ignore the false claims contained either in the story published by the newspaper or the warped version of it being circulated online by elements of the opposition in Kwara State”, the statement concluded.
