Fake Trump invite: Presidency vows law will catch fabricators soon

DDM News

A storm of controversy erupted on Sunday over an online claim that President Bola Tinubu rejected a White House invitation.

The Presidency has firmly denied the statement, branding it fake and maliciously intended to mislead the public.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the controversial statement, circulated widely on social media, alleged that Tinubu turned down an invitation from former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The statement claimed Tinubu had declined the invite, supposedly due to urgent national matters requiring his attention.

However, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has debunked the report in strong terms.

In a post via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Onanuga dismissed the document as the handiwork of disinformation agents.

He described it as an example of the rising tide of fake news aimed at embarrassing the Tinubu administration.

“Disinformation agents, hoax peddlers, fake news propagators, clickbaiters at work again,” Onanuga wrote.

“Whoever you are, one day, the law will catch you,” he warned in the strongly worded response.

Onanuga emphasized that the statement was never issued from the State House and had no connection with his office.

He expressed dismay that his name was falsely attached to the document to give it credibility.

Security analysts see this as another worrying attempt to erode public trust in government communication.

Nigeria has been grappling with the challenge of misinformation, especially during politically tense periods.

Observers say the fake statement comes at a time of heightened political interest surrounding President Tinubu’s international engagements.

Tinubu, who took office in 2023, has made strengthening diplomatic ties a pillar of his foreign policy agenda.

The U.S. remains a key partner to Nigeria on issues ranging from security to trade and democratic governance.

Claims of a diplomatic snub would, if true, carry significant implications for bilateral relations.

Analysts suggest that the alleged Trump invite may also have been fabricated to spark political tension.

With the 2027 election cycle beginning to take shape, political actors and propagandists appear to be upping the ante.

Misinformation has become a potent tool in Nigeria’s political battlefield, often used to target influential figures.

This latest episode has drawn widespread condemnation from supporters of the administration and fact-checking groups.

Some commentators have called on security agencies to track and prosecute the individuals behind the fake message.

They argue that deliberate disinformation campaigns threaten national cohesion and democratic stability.

The Presidency has urged Nigerians to rely only on verified communication channels for official information.

Meanwhile, this incident underscores the need for stronger digital literacy among citizens and harsher penalties for online deception.

While President Tinubu has yet to issue a personal statement, the swift rebuttal by his media team indicates the seriousness of the matter.

This is not the first time fabricated statements have been linked to high-profile figures in Nigeria.

Previous targets have included former President Muhammadu Buhari and key opposition leaders.

The recurring pattern suggests an organized network behind these digital forgeries.

Efforts by the National Orientation Agency and media regulators to combat fake news have yielded mixed results so far.

Experts advocate enhanced inter-agency collaboration and public awareness campaigns to address the issue.

Social media platforms, often used to disseminate fake content, also face increasing scrutiny for their role.

With election season drawing near, Nigerians are being urged to fact-check information before sharing.

The Presidency insists that it remains committed to transparency and openness with the public.

As misinformation continues to evolve, observers warn that only a robust digital response strategy can counter its spread.

For now, the focus remains on identifying and prosecuting those responsible for this latest falsehood.

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