- The Buhari Media Organisations says the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is responsible for the proliferation of fake news in the country
- BMO alleges that the former vice president hired an American lobbyist identified as Brian Ballard, and he is paying him $90,000 monthly
- The media organisation also debunks claims made by Atiku linking Buhari to a looted money in 53 suitcases
- Atiku had claimed that as head of customs at the Lagos airport in 1984, he stopped the ADC of the then head of state, Muhammadu Buhari, from smuggling in 53 suitcases of looted money
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been accused by the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) of hiring an American lobbyist to be releasing fake news capable of threatening national security.
Punch reports that BMO said that the American lobbyist identified as Brian Ballard, was procured at $90,000 monthly.
Legit.ng gathers that the allegations were made in a statement signed by the chairman of BMO, Niyin Akinsiju. According to the statement, the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation resorted to sponsoring fake news because it has no campaign issues to bring forward.
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The statement read: “Atiku Abubakar’s desperation knows no bounds; his recent move to sponsor narrative through fake news that paint Nigeria’s security personnel as weak and incapable of carrying out their duties is an example of the PDP candidate’s desperation and lack of patriotism.
“It is shameful that a former vice president of Nigeria would procure the service of an American lobby firm to sponsor fake news aimed at attacking the morale and credibility of Nigeria’s armed forces.
“In addition to this is the hiring of foreign trolls to man their online handles in a way that is against national interest.
The BMO alleged that Atiku's aim is to destroy national institutions including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and cause confusion after realising that he has lost the election even before the votes are cast.
“This goes to emphasise the fact that Mr Abubakar does not have Nigeria’s interest at heart and must be kept far away from the seat of power. The PDP has nothing to sell to Nigerians. It has a candidate who is notorious for corruption allegations and is distrusted across the globe; aside being the candidate of a party responsible for the pillage of Nigeria’s treasury.”
“It is a blatant lie that Atiku Abubakar, as head of Customs at the Lagos airport in 1984 stopped the ADC of the then Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, from smuggling in 53 suitcases of looted money.
“This is a matter that was settled back then. The suitcases were the personal belongings of the then Nigerian ambassador to Libya who was returning to the country after his tour of duty with his three wives and sixteen children.
“The late ambassador was coming into the country at the same time as the Emir of Gwandu whose son was General Buhari’s ADC and his suitcases were falsely presented to the public as those of the Emir.
“So from all indications, the suitcases which were cleared through Customs by soldiers had nothing to do with Buhari and there was nothing to suggest that illicit funds were being brought into the country.”
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim that the system was slow which had made the fight against corruption difficult.
The former vice president in an statement he signed said President Buhari does not have the will to fight corruption which corroborates Transparency International's new Corruption Perception Index which shows that Nigeria is more corrupt today than it was under the previous administration.
Atiku said: “But my point of departure from the President is in blaming his failure on the system. I disagree. The system has challenges, yes, but where there is political will, the system can make progress."
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Source: Legit.ng
