Osinbajo's aide Akande says Vice President never made disparaging remarks about IPOB, herders

Jude Egbas 19:19 - 03 June 2021

Laolu Akande (R), a fan of the VP (Center) and Osinbajo (L) pose for photographs in the VeePee's office (Twitter: @akandeoj)

<em>"So, when you read that hogwash about what he is falsely reported to have said about the herders-farmers clashes and all that, just know that it is just a lie,"</em> Akande said.

Laolu Akande who is spokesperson to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has debunked what he called "fictitious comments attributed to the VP regarding certain southeast groups and another on Fulani herdsmen/farmers."

Akande, who featured on the weekly FRCN network radio show 'Have Your Say Thursday,' said there was never a time the vice president said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) must "crush" any group "by fire by thunder."

He also said reports that the vice president asked Nigerians to pray for any group of people perpetuating violence instead of meting out justice to them, was fake news.

"These are fake news and deliberate deployment of falsehood. The vice president's voice on matters of justice in and out of government is always loud and clear," Akande said.

“For quite a long time, there has been deliberate deployment of falsehood against the vice president.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN virtually presides over The National Economic Council Meeting where he launched the PEBEC Ease of Doing Business Subnational Baseline Survey. 18th Mar, 2021. Photos; Tolani Alli

“I have seen, a number of times they put out stuff on WhatsApp, Facebook that says the vice president has said something to attack a particular group in the southeast, and that this and that is what he said about the farmers-herders conflict. All of it untrue.

“What the vice president said about our people in the southeast is that they are people of industry, and that though there may be issues from different parts of the country, the whole essence of a union is to find very transparent, open ways to resolve the differences.

“And that he knows that people and leaders across the country--whether from the south-east, south-south, southwest, northeast, north-central--all support the unity of this country,” Akande added.