Who is Afraid of The VP
Who is Afraid of The VP
By Boniface Chizea
One thing that beats my imagination is what drives the perpetrators of blatant and unfounded lies in the public space by way of the rampant publications of fake news. Some times you encounter these fake news and you are hard pressed to discern the rationale for such fake news.
I say this because as all who are familiar with my activities know that I am heavy in the public space with my numerous interventions just as I am just doing now. And on occasions I have forwarded posts which I never spared a thought could be false and I have had individuals come back to advise that we should try to cross check facts before dissemination.
But really; how much cross checking can someone make! For instance the last time I encountered this experience was the post that reported that Archbishop Desmond Tutu was dead. Considering that the Archbishop by his age should really be at the departure lounge, one pitifully forwarded such posts as public services only to be upbraided later when the news turned out to be false. Pulse for a while and ask yourself what type of warped mind would falsely put out such a post! What is there to gain?
It reminds one of the recent fake news about the death of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka which he characteristically laughed off. I think ex President Obasanjo has died and resurrected several times that death is now even afraid of him! He is now really a cat with the proverbial nine lives. Sometimes fake vacancies are advertised but often we advise would be beneficiaries to exercise due caution particularly if money is being requested.
Not long ago the fake news about the Vice President was that Bola Tinubu his mentor refused to see him on a visit to London. And to add pepper to the source he was alleged to be in the company of GO Enoch Adeboye; my Mathematics teacher at the University of Lagos. In fact it was alleged that Bola Tinubu had to leave the abode where he resided in London as early as 6 am on the day of the supposed visit to ensure that the meeting did not take place.
There have been all manner of fake news regarding the VP’s role come 2023. But the VP having served as a loyal deputy for six years now going to be eight years come 2023 is oven ready; eminently qualified to be the calibre of Nigerian President we all crave for as what is incontrovertible to all is the fact that the VP on all counts has discharged his brief with aplomb; masterfully.
But what pushed me to put out this post is the wicked rumours that surrounded the VP with regard to the unfortunate and calamitous incident of the recent collapse of 21 storey building here in Lagos with countless loss of lives. In fact the Vice President was alleged to be the owner of the land the building stands; that when there was some problem with breaching the approval given for the building in terms of the number of floors approved and the developer was arrested that he was released on the same day and the number of floors he was allowed to construct was even increased because of the intervention by the VP.
In fact the Lagos State Governor was not spared. It was claimed that he is also a shareholder hence the speedy release and approval as only the Governor has that authority. It was concluded in the release that this development is adequate to eclipse the VP’s political future. It should by now be obvious to all that most likely that was the goal the fake allegations was meant to achieve. But the fate of the righteous is in the hands of God!
When the material was making the rounds carrying these false allegations and I was reading it at many platforms, I refused to circulate it as to me it did not look realistic. And I have also learnt to be very circumspect with such news which is pointedly calculated to malign particularly when there is no identified author as it was not signed.
But when I saw an earlier post by a group of friends of the VP denying the allegations with some relief I was glad to circulate it. But now we have a definitive rebuttal from his office. Unfortunately this is now becoming the cross which public officers in the country have to carry.
What is to be decried by right thinking compatriots is that some of these posts are sponsored by those who wish to score cheap political points. My take is that collectively we must find a way to punish such offenders as this cankerworm has gotten out of hand more so as some considerations are involved. Well somehow the VP must be getting used to these fake publications by now if there is anything like that! We wish him lion heart to be able to take such news in his stride. Shalom
Dr. Boniface Chizea a top-notch economic and business development consultant lives in Lagos
