By Francis Eggon
Nasarawa State government has dismissed as false, a media report alleging that Governor Abdullahi Sule held a secret meeting with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Saudi Arabia.
Government described the report, published by an online medium, as “a complete fabrication” and “entirely false.”
Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the governor, Mr Ibrahim Addra, made the denial in a statement yesterday in Lafia.
According to him, although Sule travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj, he did not meet with Atiku or any of his associates during the trip.
“At no point during his stay did the governor meet with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. There was no meeting, no dinner and no agreement of any kind,” Addra said.
He added that the governor was not aware of Atiku’s presence in Saudi Arabia, contrary to claims in the report.
The CPS noted that even the spokesperson to the former vice-president, Mr Paul Ibe, was quoted as saying he was not aware of such a meeting.
Addra described the publication as “fiction dressed as journalism” and alleged that it was politically motivated.
He said the report came shortly after Sule publicly reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and his re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Few days ago at the All Progressives Congress, APC, zonal congress, Governor Sule stood firmly with his party and the president when he seconded the motion moved by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, for the North Central zone to adopt President Tinubu as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election,” he said.
The spokesman stressed that the governor remains loyal to the APC and had consistently demonstrated support for the president.
“Sule has, on several occasions, publicly extolled the leadership of President Tinubu and affirmed his commitment to the administration.
“He does not say one thing in public and another in private,” he said.
Addra alleged that unnamed political actors were behind the report in a bid to create disaffection between the governor and the president.
He urged the public to disregard the publication, describing it as misleading and aimed at political sabotage.
The CPS also called on the media organisation to retract the story and issue an apology.
“Journalism carries a huge responsibility. Publishing a story of this magnitude without credible evidence or confirmation from the principal actors falls below acceptable standards,” he said.
He reaffirmed Sule’s commitment to the APC, President Tinubu and the people of Nasarawa State.
“He remains focused on governance and will not be distracted by unfounded allegations,” Addra said.
