The Presidency has firmly debunked viral reports claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intends to change the name of the country or abolish Sharia law in the northern region, describing the rumors as completely baseless fabrications.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), he urged Nigerians to disregard the false narratives designed to trigger unnecessary panic and division across the country.
He stressed that there is absolutely no executive bill or hidden agenda being pushed by the administration to alter Nigeria’s foundational structures or religious legal frameworks.
The statement read: ‘’The Presidency wishes to inform Nigerians and state clearly that there is no truth to the viral fake story claiming that President Bola Tinubu seeks to carry out constitutional amendments that will change Nigeria’s name to the United States of Nigeria and abolish Sharia Law in the Northern region, among other claims.
‘’The story, which cited anonymous sources, is part of the dubious plot by some desperate politicians to create disaffection in our country, stir up a political crisis, and heat the polity ahead of the general elections.
Nigerians should ignore the viral story in its entirety because the purveyors of the fake news are agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder.
Onanuga pointed out that the President has no plan whatsoever to send any bill code-named Project True Federation to the National Assembly by December 15, a few weeks before the general election.
He said: ‘’President Tinubu has no plan whatsoever to send any bill code-named Project True Federation to the National Assembly by December 15, a few weeks before the general election.
‘’Under our laws, constitutional changes and amendments are serious business that require legislative scrutiny, oversight and serious debate. The process of amending the constitution is not at the President’s or the National Assembly’s whim. It is a task that requires a 2/3 majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and the concurrence of 24 State Houses of Assembly.
‘’President Tinubu is focused on the arduous task of entrenching and deepening the economic reforms his administration has embarked upon. He is focused on delivering more tangible dividends to Nigerians.
‘’Nigerians should be wary of consuming fake and divisive reports, which will proliferate as the nation begins political campaigns, a prelude to the general elections in January 2027’’.