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By Oscar Okhifo
Former Aviation Minister and member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has denied ever showing interest in the presidency of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), describing as “fake news” reports linking him to the position.
Fani-Kayode, in a statement on Thursday, dismissed the publications as the handiwork of what he called “419 blogs” peddling falsehoods and mischief.
“I know nothing about the NFF. I have not been approached or nominated for its presidency or chairmanship, and if such an approach were ever made, I would respectfully decline,” he said.
The former minister said he was shocked to see fabricated stories and quotes being circulated online, alleging that he had entered the race before withdrawing to back another aspirant.
He stressed that he has no involvement with football administration and urged the public to disregard what he described as “a deeply insulting attempt to drag my name into a matter I know nothing about.”
Warning against the spread of misinformation, Fani-Kayode stated that only statements released through his official website, femifanikayode.org, or his verified social media platforms on X, Facebook, and Instagram should be considered authentic.
“These faceless blogs are criminal in nature. They attribute to me words I never uttered. Nigerians should be wary and treat any report not from my verified channels with the utmost suspicion,” he cautioned.
Fake news has become a recurring challenge in Nigeria, with none of the purveyors held accountable despite the damage caused to reputations and institutions. Every attempt by government to regulate social media in order to curb the menace has been met with stiff resistance from citizens who see such moves as a ploy to gag free speech.
So far, checks by major news outlets have found no credible evidence that Fani-Kayode was ever in the running for the NFF presidency.