President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday returned to Abuja, after a 10-day private visit to the United Kingdom.
A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, said that “Some reckless online media, irresponsible political opposition, and other bilious groups and individuals, had gone on overdrive since the President left the country on April 25, insinuating that he was going for hospitalisation, and would not return after 10 days as stated. In their vain imaginations, they even stated that fictive doctors have advised President Buhari to stay longer for more intensive care”.
The statement goes on to say that now that the President has returned, “can these apostles of evil imaginings swallow their words? Can they retract their tendentious stories as well as press statements, and apologise to millions of Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora that they have fed with hogwash?”
Few days after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day, Adesina said, we daresay that this valuable freedom is not tantamount to liberty to mislead and hoodwink the populace through concocted and jejune publications.
“The Buhari administration will always respect and uphold press freedom, but the onus lies on those prone to passing off fiction as facts, to remember that freedom demands concomitant responsibility. Those who further share and disseminate falsehood are also encouraged to embrace responsible conduct,” the statement concluded.