In a press conference on Tuesday, the minister denounced the publication as an attempt to tarnish his reputation at this crucial time when he is busy supervising the constitutional role of the Military in aid of civil authority to defend the nation’s democracy.
He made this known in a statement signed by the Special Assistant, Media to the Minister, Mohammad Abdulkadir and titled, “Fake News; Re: Known Drug Lord As C-in-C, An Insult To Military. Minister of Defence Distances Self From Drug Lord Story, Says It’s Fake, False”.
It reads, “The attention of the Minister of Defence Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi,(rtd) has been drawn to an online fake story credited to him as shown below:
“General Magashi described the above statement as unfortunate, unfounded and spurious.
“He said the myopic, diabolic and despotic publication can be traced to the stable of the agents of anti-democratic forces who are masquerading as politicians.
“The Minister said it is a condemnable act of the stock in trade of some disgruntled elements trying to drag his reputation and that of the nation’s “apolitical Military” into a politically motivated media hype aimed at disparaging the personality of the President-Elect, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Again the story accordingly cannot pass the test of reasonability, reality, rationality and believability as it was dead on arrival.
“Afterall, it was not a happenchance that the Minister is vindicated by being the first member of the Federal Executive Council, FEC to congratulate the President-elect in widely circulated and verifiable measures in the media.
“General Magashi pointed out that it is an exercise in futility to concoct false news against a man of proven integrity like him to be derided at this crucial time when he is busy supervising the constitutional role of the Military in aid of civil authority to defend the nation’s democracy.
“It is therefore a bad market for the paid hack-writer whose adventurism for money-spinning fake news business is capable of undermining selfless service to the nation."
