𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲 ‘𝗦𝗚𝗙 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹’ 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘀 ‘𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀’

By James Ibechi

…It feels like a leak

The Presidency’s hasty dismissal of the report that George Akume has been removed as Secretary to the Government of the Federation as “fake news” is not just shallow—it is insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians. The story did not come from some backyard gossip chain. It was reported by mainstream newsrooms—The Nation, Vanguard, and Daily Post, online —organisations that pride themselves on proximity to power.

For instance, The Nation is widely believed to be owned by the President himself. Are we to believe that this paper, of all media, has suddenly become the megaphone of “mischief makers”?

This is not fake news. This smells of a premature leak from inside the power structure. And rather than own up to a lapse in communication or admit internal disarray, the Presidency chose the easier path of public gaslighting.

There comes a time when denials no longer hold water. If journalists with access to Villa insiders ran the story with confidence, Nigerians have every right to suspect it was not concocted—but whispered to them from within. The problem here is not just about who is SGF. The bigger problem is the culture of secrecy, poor coordination, and lack of trust that defines the APC-led administration.

This confusion is not an isolated incident. It is one more crack in the already wobbling structure of the APC leadership—a government that has grown detached, defensive, and deaf to the concerns of the governed.

No amount of spin can erase the weariness Nigerians feel. And it is precisely why the National Coalition, now under the interim leadership of Senator David Mark, is gaining ground. The Coalition is fast becoming the rallying point for Nigerians tired of recycled excuses and ready for genuine leadership.

The hawks will be kicked out. 2027 is not far.

… Ibechi, a journalist based on Makurdi.