The Minister’s attention was drawn to a fake Twitter handle in her name saying that “recession is just a word.”
If you have been following the account above, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, has said that she does not have any Twitter account.
READ ALSO Video confirms Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Adeosun dismissed recession as just ‘a word’
This is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media, Mr Festus Akanbi, on Thursday in Abuja.
Akanbi also stated that the Minister’s attention was drawn to a fake Twitter handle in her name saying that “recession is just a word.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister does not own a Twitter account.
“The twitter handle currently trending,and any other twitter handle presently in existence, is not, and cannot be that of the Minister, A twitter account has not yet been set up for her.
“It is obviously fake and does not represent the views and opinions of the Minister.’’
He also said that Adeosun did not make such a statement.
According to Akanbi the Minister addressed the media immediately after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council and did not make such a statement.
He said that the Minister had consistently demonstrated empathy for the plight of Nigerians hard hit by dwindling oil prices and the impact on the economy.
“This administration is known for integrity and has never hidden the true situation of things from Nigerians, rather it has looked for ways to alleviate the hardships through social intervention programmes.
“We therefore enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard these spurious allegations against the Minister of Finance.
“We remain committed to reflating and resetting the economy on a path towards sustainable growth,” Akanbi stated
However, Elombah.com reported today that video evidence, counters Mrs. Adeosun’s denial on Thursday, after the comment became controversial, with many condemning it as insensitive to the sufferings of Nigerians.
Moreover, the Twitter handle has for months posted messages in her name, with its tweets frequently reported by the media.
In its latest post on Wednesday, the account, @Mrskemiadeosun, responded to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics showing that the Nigerian economy contracted for another quarter and was effectively in recession.
But as distraught Nigerians reacted to the verdict, the handle appeared to downplay it.
“The strongest of all warriors are these two, time and patience. I know people are concerned about the recession. Recession is a word,” the handle tweeted.
The tweet generated backlash from many Nigerians, including the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The post was later deleted.
But the criticism intensified on Thursday morning, with the comment making the headlines of some national dailies.