By Janet Bassey (Governance Reporter)
A Public Opinion and Advocacy Group (POAG) has exonerated Nigeria's Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, from allegations and claims that he has opened a campaign office with the intention to contest for the 2023 Presidential election.
The group said its defense of the Vice President was predicated on a "fact check" it conducted to that effect.
On Sunday this week, November 21, 2021, news had filtered in with a screaming headline alleging that the "VP Yemi Osinbajo has opened a campaign office for 2023 in Abuja".
According to the group's reaction in a statement, it said "At first, we - the Public Opinion and Advocacy Group - were caught with an element of surprise. We were surprised because over and over again, the VP has reiterated, through his spokesperson, Laolu Akande, that he is focused on his current job and needs no distraction for the all-important assignment at hand.
"However, upon our complete reading of the news story, we found to our consternation that the said office WAS NOT OPENED by VP Osinbajo but by a group which calls itself the Progressives Consolidation Group. Pray, when did such a group become the VP or the Office of the Vice President?
"For the sake of contextual expediency, it is also apposite to note that the much-publicized office opening never had the attendance of the VP either in person or by proxy as none of his official aides were also there.
"Flowing from the above, we would like to caution journalists to stop overheating the polity. While we recognize the fact that events of this nature are commonplace in the impending political season, we advise journalists as the conscience of the people to uphold the truth at all times", POAG stated. NNL.
