Reports that the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Suleiman Adamu endorsed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the 2023 presidency have been debunked.
The reports of the alleged endorsement surfaced after the Vice President visited his palace on Tuesday.
However, the Bauchi Emirate Council described the reports as false in a statement on Thursday.
The statement signed by the Emirate’s Information Officer, Babangida Jahun reads:
“The Bauchi Emirate Council has denied the fake news circulating on Social Media while making attempt to link the Emir with politics, the news is FAKE and imagination of the reporter with the aim to cause confusion and disharmony among the citizenry,” the statement said.
“To put the record straight of what the Emir said during the Vice President’s visit is:
‘I want to welcome you to Bauchi State. I believe you are in Bauchi for political activities but you still considered it necessary to visit me at this material time. This shows the love and respect you have for the traditional institution.
‘We believe that power belongs to Allah and he gives it to whoever he wants and at the same time, we are not politicians, we can’t participate in politics but we will only advise wisely.
‘We pray that whatever you are here to do today in Bauchi State is fruitful. Whatever will bring unity and peace in our country is what we are after.”
However, the part where the Emir reportedly said “If not (that I am an Emir), maybe I would have asked His Excellency (Osinbajo) to make me his campaign coordinator for Bauchi” was missing in the clarification issued.
Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to Yemi Osinbajo, had quoted the Emir in a statement issued on Tuesday.
