Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has raised concerns over what he described as a sustained campaign of misinformation targeted at discrediting him, warning that the spread of falsehoods poses a threat not only to his reputation but also to public trust.

Adelabu specifically debunked a viral statement attributed to him in which he was quoted as saying he had “accumulated enough money to never be broke again,” insisting that he never made such a remark in any setting, whether public or private. He described the claim as entirely fabricated and intended to mislead the public.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, the minister denied any connection to the controversial comment, urging Nigerians to disregard it in its entirety. The minister stressed that the statement did not emanate from him and was part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish his image.

According to Tunji, the development reflects a coordinated pattern of disinformation directed at the minister. He noted that the circulation of the alleged quote followed closely on the heels of another false narrative involving a purported resignation letter, which had earlier been widely shared but was subsequently exposed as fake.

The statement argued that the recurrence of such incidents points to an orchestrated campaign aimed at undermining Adelabu’s credibility and public standing. It described the trend as a “calculated campaign of calumny,” designed to malign both the individual and the office he occupies through the dissemination of fake news and deliberate falsehoods.

The minister’s camp further linked the wave of misinformation to his growing political profile, particularly speculation surrounding his interest in contesting the governorship seat in Oyo State. According to the statement, Adelabu’sperceived ambition under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has unsettled certain political interests, thereby triggering attempts to weaken his public image.

Although the minister has not formally declared his candidacy, his name has continued to feature prominently in political discussions within Oyo State, fuelling speculation about a potential run. 

The statement maintained that the timing and consistency of the false reports were not coincidental, but rather indicative of a deliberate strategy to sow doubt and confusion among the public. 

“The false claim is coming on the heels of a recently circulated ‘resignation letter’ by the minister, which has also been exposed as fake…Both incidents point to a calculated campaign of calumny designed to discredit the minister.

“This is not an isolated attack. It is part of a sustained effort to malign the person and office of the Honourable Minister through the spread of fake news and deliberate falsehoods,” the statement explained, linking what it described as the wave of disinformation to Adelabu’s reported interest in contesting the governorship seat in Oyo State on the platform of the APC. 

Adelabu argued that the intensified attacks were driven by political interests threatened by his growing influence.

Emmanuel Addeh