The Presidency, yesterday described a claim published in some online news platforms that President Muhammadu Buhari said he did not see himself handing over to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as fake news.
An online news medium, Sahara Reporters, had claimed in one of its recent publications that President Buhari had confided in his purported “close associates” that he did not see himself handing over to Tinubu.
But in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency queried the logic of the alleged fake news, wondering how President Buhari could campaign for Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, and decline to hand over after they had secured victory.
“The Presidency wishes to denounce as outrageous and fake, and condemns the fake news brigade for attributing a false quote to President Muhammadu Buhari and circulating it.
“How can you vigorously campaign for somebody, vote for him and then say you won’t hand over to him? This beggars belief.
“The situation of the Sahara Reporters is pretty pathetic since their ownership is politically partisan in today’s politics, in fact a loser in the presidential election. Instead of talking about issues, they repeatedly sell lies in the hope that people believe them as truth,” the statement said.
It pointed out that the Buhari administration had already kicked off the process of transition, with committees in place, which are already carrying out duties focused on a hand-over process.
“The government is already in transition phase. The Transition Committee, made up of representatives of the outgoing administration and the incoming one is meeting almost daily, planning the handover to the Tinubu/Shettima administration…”
“Thirteen committees as offshoots of the main committee, some, to arrange military drills and pulling out of President Buhari, are either all at work or soon to be. So far, everything is going very well and there is no indication of any hitches.
“As for the President, the Daura community has begun their preparations to receive their son back after the successful administration of the country for two terms of eight years. He, for his part, is eager to return home to enjoy his retirement,” the statement added.
