Rotimi Oyekanmi, former Chief Press Secretary to the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has debunked a media report that misinterpreted the send-off ceremony for his principal.
Oyekanmi, who is leaving office with Yakubu, stated that INEC staff sang a farewell praise song for his principal, not a “dirge,” as some media outlets reported.
In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, Rotimi decried the narrative by a section of the media, specifically referencing a report that described the visible show of appreciation by INEC staff as a “funeral song.”
He described the reports as a “false, deliberate piece of disinformation” conjured by a “set of haters masquerading as journalists.”
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Oyekanmi expressed shame that a news platform would report the direct opposite of an event:“The visible show of love and respect displayed by the appreciative INEC staff at the commission’s headquarters yesterday as the departing former INEC Chairman, Yakubu, walks to his car is now been intentionally mis-interpreted and misrepresented as a “funeral song.”
“This deliberate piece of disinformation can only be conjured by a set of haters masquerading as journalists at Sahara Reporters. But they have failed and will continue to fail,” he said.
Oyekanmi maintained that, contrary to the misleading report, the majority of the INEC Staff openly talked about Yakubu’s transformative policies that led to promotions, more allowances, and capacity development initiatives over the last 10 years.
He insisted that INEC Staff members always demonstrated love towards Yakubu throughout his tenure.
He concluded by defending his principal and admonishing the media:“Journalism is about facts, accuracy and truthfulness, not a vehicle to be misused by pseudo-journalists to embark on a campaign of calumny against individuals.”
“Prof. Yakubu’s place in history is assured, no matter the lies being spread by familiar forces,”
Yakubu bowed out as INEC Chairman on Tuesday after completing his two terms, handing over to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu as the acting Chairman.
See video of the incident below:
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