By Eshiorameh Sebastian in Abuja
The Presidency has firmly debunked a circulating news report claiming President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to travel to the United States for a meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, labeling the story as “fake news” and the basis for “uninformed commentaries.”
The rebuttal came in response to a news published by Sahara Reporters on Sunday, which alleged that President Tinubu was set to meet with U.S. leaders in White House, a report that has since sparked significant discussion online and in various media circles.
In a clear and direct dismissal, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, stated that the report is entirely false. He further clarified the diplomatic protocol involved, implying the premise of the story was flawed from the outset. “If President Tinubu is going to the White House, he won’t be going to see a Vice President,” Ajayi stated, underscoring the inaccuracy of the initial claim.
The earlier, now discredited report had created a narrative of high-stakes diplomacy, suggesting President Tinubu was scheduled to meet with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday. That report framed the supposed meeting as a critical engagement to mend a “diplomatic rift” allegedly caused by Mr. Trump’s recent pronouncements on Nigeria. The false story claimed the talks would focus on counter-terrorism cooperation and the issue of religious violence.
It further cited unverified statements, including a threat attributed to Trump that the U.S. could go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if the killing of Christians continued. The fabricated report also claimed the Nigerian presidency had issued a rebuttal to these alleged threats, denying the occurrence of a Christian genocide and emphasizing Nigeria’s status as a constitutional democracy.
Adding a layer of apparent credibility to the false narrative, the initial story quoted a supposed media aide, Daniel Bwala, who expressed confidence that “any perceived differences… would be resolved amicably when the two leaders met.”
However, the Presidency’s confirmation today pulls the rug from under this entire constructed narrative.
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