The media office of former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to a video circulating online with a suggestion that the frontline politician is not enjoying sound health.
A statement Monday by Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe and sent to NationWide said the PDP presidential candidate is in robust health, adding that the video in circulation was the work of mischief makers without understanding of security protocols.
The statement reads:
Our attention has been drawn to a report and a video in a section of the media purporting to be of an “ailing” Atiku Abubakar being helped strapped to his car seatbelt by an aide.
Nothing can be further from the truth. For the records, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in robust good health.
We would not ordinarily have responded to this mischief, but for the impression that it will create in the minds of Nigerians which is exactly the objective of the purveyors of this fake news.
Recall that the former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the PDP was in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State on Thursday for the grand rally of the PDP ahead of weekend’s election and victory of its governorship candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke.
It is important to note that protective operations encompasses all measures being put in place to ensure extreme safety of a VIP both on foot movements, static, and on motion.
It is the responsibility of the head of Atiku Abubakar’s security to ensure his safety before the convoy commences any movement. Since VIP movement entails protective driving, securing a VIP before embarking on any type of journey be it short or long distance cannot be over emphasised. The overriding consideration at all times is the safety of Atiku Abubakar.
We wish to state that Atiku Abubakar is not averse to scrutiny because of the consequential nature of the 2023 elections. However, it is our position that such scrutiny must not be predicated on a slash and burn rogue journalism as is the case with this contrived report.
Signed: Paul Ibe
Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar Presidential Candidate of PDP and Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007
Abuja.