Shaibu further argued that Atiku’s political engagements are “broad-based, principled, and national in scope”.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Phrank Shaibu, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed a recently circulated publication attributed to ex-Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, insisting the claims are “fabricated lies”.
He refuted the allegations in a statement where he described them as “a shameless concoction of a tissue of lies stitched together by a serial purveyor of political gossip”.
Shaibu was reacting to an article written by Fayose titled, ‘Between Atiku and Makinde: Untold Story of What Happened in Minna Yesterday’.
In the write-up, the former governor alleged that a recent meeting between Atiku and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde was aimed at making the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain the former VP’s running mate in 2027.
He also alleged the governor promised to make the sum of N10 billion available if he secured the VP slot.
Addressing the claims, Shaibu, who is Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, said the allegations in the publication are entirely false.
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He noted there were no negotiations over vice-presidential tickets, no discussions of N10 billion contributions, no zoning manipulations, and no secret “Dubai meeting” involving Atiku Abubakar.
He further stated that Atiku’s political engagements are “broad-based, principled, and national in scope, not the narrow, transactional theatrics” described in the article.
“The story is not insider information. It is insider fiction manufactured to mislead, distract, and provoke,” the statement read.
He went on to urge the public to treat the publication “with the contempt it deserves”.
While criticising individuals seeking attention by inventing political narratives around serious national figures, he emphasised that falsehoods “may trend for a moment, but collapse under the weight of truth”.
Shaibu concluded by saying Atiku remains focused on “principled engagement and national redemption” rather than “backroom theatrics designed by attention-seekers”.
