The Presidency has refuted a viral report alleging that a chef at the State House in Abuja was arrested over an alleged attempt to poison Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu.
The clarification followed the circulation of an online story claiming that a member of the kitchen staff at the Presidential Villa had been detained in connection with a purported plot against the President’s life.
Reacting to an enquiry by The Nation, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, dismissed the allegation outright.
“Fake,” Ajayi said in a brief response when contacted about the claim.
The unverified report, which failed to provide credible sources or concrete evidence, quickly spread across social media, generating speculation among members of the public.
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo, on Saturday described Tinubu’s emergence as president as “a painful lesson from God” rather than a blessing for Nigerians.
Speaking in Kano during a Ramadan Iftar organised by the AAFAQ Foundation, Adebayo called on citizens to reflect on the nation’s condition and prioritise justice over division.
He recalled visiting Kano during his campaign four years ago, noting that he had anticipated the country would face a period of difficult lessons.