Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is demanding immediate retraction and apology from African Independent Television (AIT) over a photo shown on it social media segment, Kaaki Social, where a purported tweeter account belonging to him, showed a picture during an alleged meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, at his Ota farm in Ogun state.
The former President also demanded that similar apology be extended to the Vice President for the embarrassment the development might have caused him.
Special Assistant (Media) to the former President, Kehinde Akinyemi in a statement this morning expressed disappointment on the station’s failure to verify the fake Twitter Account before airing it on the station.
“It is a fact that severally, the former President have dissociated himself from owning any social media account. Therefore, it is highly disappointing that such sensitive Twitter post would be allowed to go on air without verification by the African Independent Television (AIT),” Akinyemi stated.
The former President, who is presently in Sokoto for the Zero Hunger project subsequently demanded retraction and apology from the station.
He equally expressed concern over continuous use of his name by suspected fraudsters on social media platforms, warning that offenders caught perpetrating the act, would be made to face prosecution immediately.
Obasanjo further urged the media to always be professional in discharging their duties and should refrain from creating unnecessary confusion and heating up the polity.
“There was no meeting with the Vice President anywhere. I was at the Airport and was informed that he was around in the Lounge and out of courtesy, I felt I should go and greet him. We met, greeted and exchanged pleasantries and I left. That was all.
“The station should have been very professional and not causing confusion and heating up the polity. That I am not operating any social media account should not be strange to a station like AIT, and for that embarrassment, the Vice President and I deserve an apology,” Obasanjo was quoted as having said.
Kehinde Akinyemi
Special Assistant Media
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nov. 22, 2018.