The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has voiced significant concerns regarding a continuous misinformation campaign allegedly targeting him, asserting that the propagation of falsehoods poses a dual threat to his personal reputation and the public's confidence.
Adelabu explicitly refuted a viral statement purportedly attributed to him, which claimed he had "accumulated enough money to never be broke again." He firmly stated that he never uttered such words in any capacity, whether in public or private, and characterized the assertion as entirely fictitious and designed to mislead.
In a statement released on Monday, his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, disassociated the minister from the contentious remark. Tunji urged the public to dismiss the quote entirely, emphasizing that it did not originate from Adelabu and was part of a deliberate effort to tarnish his image.
According to Tunji, this incident is indicative of a systematic disinformation strategy directed at the minister. He pointed out that the circulation of this alleged quote followed closely on the heels of another fabricated narrative concerning a supposed resignation letter, which had also been widely disseminated before being exposed as false.
The statement suggested that the repeated nature of these occurrences points to a premeditated campaign to erode Adelabu’s credibility and public standing. It described the trend as a "calculated campaign of calumny," intended to malign both the individual and his ministerial role through the distribution of fake news and deliberate untruths.
The minister's camp further suggested that these intensified attacks are fueled by political interests perceiving his growing influence as a threat. Specifically, the statement alluded to speculation about Adelabu's potential ambition to contest the governorship seat in Oyo State under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a possible catalyst for these efforts to damage his public image.
While Adelabu has not officially announced any gubernatorial aspirations, his name continues to be a prominent topic in political discussions within Oyo State, fueling ongoing speculation about his intentions.
The statement reiterated that the synchronicity and persistence of these false reports are not accidental but rather evidence of a strategic intent to sow seeds of doubt and confusion among the populace.
"The false claim is coming on the heels of a recently circulated ‘resignation letter’ by the minister, which has also been exposed as fake…Both incidents point to a calculated campaign of calumny designed to discredit the minister.
"This is not an isolated attack. It is part of a sustained effort to malign the person and office of the Honourable Minister through the spread of fake news and deliberate falsehoods," the statement elaborated, linking the wave of disinformation to Adelabu’s rumoured interest in seeking the governorship in Oyo State under the APC.
Adelabu contended that the escalating smear campaign is motivated by political factions who feel threatened by his increasing influence.
Emmanuel Addeh
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