Quadri Yahya
Claim:
Reports in the media quoted Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun as saying “Nigerians are sore losers”.
Verdict: While the governor did make the statement that Nigerians are sore losers, the government office has cleared the air that the statement’s referent is not the general citizens but some opposition parties.
Full Text:
As angry and hungry citizens protest in different parts of the country, government officials at both the federal and state levels have addressed citizens during media and public appearances.
The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, while appearing on Channels TV on Wednesday is quoted to have said “The problem we have today is that Nigerians are sore losers. If you want a regime change, wait till 2027. Don’t begin to sponsor faceless, leaderless protests.”
Verification:
PLATFORM TIMES observed that the state governor indeed made the statement attributed to him.
However, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, Mr Kayode Akinmade. has come forward to make clarifications on the statement of governor Abiodun.
He said, “While Governor Abiodun did indeed mention sore losers, he was clearly emphasizing irredentist opposition leaders who do not wish this administration well, urging them to prepare for the 2027 polls instead of mindlessly discrediting every government policy just to excite passions and incite people against the government.
“To stretch his use of the word ‘Nigerians’ beyond its intended referents in this context is, therefore, to engage in intellectual fraud and plain mischief.
“Governor Abiodun has the utmost respect for the protesters, and he has made that clear on many occasions.”
PLATFORM TIMES has observed that this is not the first time people in government will come forward to debunk statements seemingly condemning protesters.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, after reportedly saying Nigerians should be protesting and “we will be eating” at a public function, later debunked the statement.
Conclusion:
The governor’s spokesman’s claim that the statement was fabricated is NOT TRUE.
However, the government has clarified that governor Abiodun was not referring to the general Nigerians as sore losers as reported in the media.
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