By Gbenga Abulude
The presidency, on Wednesday debunked claims by an online medium that one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s aides tested positive for Covid-19.
In the statement made available by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam, Garba Shehu urged the the public to ignore the report, adding that the State House always makes it a point of duty to constantly screen those working around the President.
An online medium had reported on Tuesday that the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Social Affairs and Domestic Matters, Mr Sarki Abba tested positive for Covid-19.
But Shehu in the statement said, it was a false report to mislead Nigerians. He said neither Abba nor any other person had tested positive in the State House.
The statement reads, “We react to the utter falsehood and disgraceful lies, a report by so-called digital newspaper which, claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Sarki Abba is COVID-19 positive.
“The Presidency wishes to advise Nigerians to ignore determined agents of fake news bent on spreading false stories to the public.
“This report is sheer fabrication and brazen effort by the online news medium to mislead the public.
“Upon the directive of doctors and scientists and supervision of Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff, all staff working for and around the President, are routinely and rigorously checked for the virus. The Senior Special Assistant, Social Affairs and Domestic Matters, Sarki Abba, always tested negative.
“The general public is hereby advised to ignore such stories that are intended to mislead the people and create unnecessary anxiety about the safety of the President.
“Don’t let yourself to be manipulated by any medium that thrives on yellow journalism and specialises in peddling fake news in the desperate quest for the market and donor money”, the statement said.
