Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has debunked claims that the Presidency halted Wike’s monthly media briefings.
Reports had earlier suggested that the Presidency stopped the sessions due to concerns that Wike’s remarks were fueling political tension in Rivers State. According to those reports, the minister’s media interactions had allegedly become platforms for issuing threats, attacking political opponents, and making inflammatory comments that could destabilise the state.
It was also claimed that the Presidency grew increasingly uncomfortable after Wike reportedly criticised Rivers elders who attempted to mediate between him and Governor Sim Fubara. The situation, according to the source, risked reigniting the political crisis in the state.
However, when contacted by Standarddailypress, Olayinka flatly denied the claims, describing them as entirely baseless. When asked about the authenticity of the report, he responded in one word — “Fake.”
