Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at Peter Ayodele Fayose, labeling the former Ekiti State Governor a “serial political gossip.”
Atiku urged the public to dismiss Fayose’s claims regarding vice-presidential ticket negotiations, characterizing them as “beer parlour tales of infamy.”
The clarification comes in response to Fayose’s allegation that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had agreed to run as Atiku’s vice-president, purportedly promising a ₦10 billion campaign contribution.
Atiku’s camp maintained that no such discussions took place during his recent visit to former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida.
In a statement released Thursday, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, dismissed the story as “insider fiction” rather than insider information.
Shaibu emphasized that the former VP never engaged in the “imaginary horse-trading” described by Fayose, calling the narrative a malicious fabrication designed to distract and mislead the public.
He stated: “Our attention has been drawn to a reckless and malicious fabrication titled “Between Atiku and Makinde, Untold Story of What Happened in Minna Yesterday,” attributed to one Peter Ayodele Fayose.
“Let it be stated clearly: the entire publication is a shameless concoction — a tissue of lies stitched together by a serial purveyor of political gossip whose relevance survives only on controversy, distortion, and cheap propaganda.
“There were no negotiations over vice-presidential tickets. There were no discussions about ₦10 billion contributions. There were no zoning manipulations. There were no delegate-delivery guarantees. And there is certainly no clandestine “Dubai meeting” on any such agenda.
“The attempt to drag other political actors into this fabricated beer parlour tale does not elevate its credibility; it merely exposes the desperation behind it.
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s political engagements are broad-based, principled, and national in scope — not the narrow, transactional theatrics invented in that publication.
“It is unfortunate that certain individuals, long deprived of credibility and political gravitas, now attempt to manufacture relevance by inventing tales around serious national figures. Falsehood may trend for a moment, but it collapses under the weight of truth.
“Atiku Abubakar does not transact politics in secrecy, bribery, or transactional desperation as mischievously and irresponsibly portrayed. He remains focused on principled engagement and national redemption — not backroom theatrics designed by attention-seekers.”
It added: “Certain individuals, long deprived of credibility, now attempt to manufacture relevance by inventing tales around serious national figures. Falsehood may trend briefly, but it collapses under the weight of truth.
“Atiku Abubakar does not engage in secret deals, bribery, or transactional desperation as mischievously portrayed. He remains focused on principled engagement and national redemption.”
The spokesman advised the public to treat Fayose’s publication with the contempt it deserves.
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