LAGOS, Nigeria — The Lagos State Government has denied a report claiming that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was asked to resign on health grounds, describing the publication as false.
The denial was issued in a statement by Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, who said the claim that the Deputy Governor was set to take over is untrue.
Okay News reports that the state government said Governor Sanwo-Olu remains in good health and continues to carry out his responsibilities.
“This report is false in its entirety. Nobody has asked the Lagos Governor to resign-this is another fake news, which has become a pattern of Sahara Reporters. Governor Sanwo-Olu remains in good health, of sound mind, and is actively discharging his duties as Governor of Lagos State,” the statement said.
Akosile said the Governor earlier received Deputy Governor Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who visited him to formally notify him of his intention to contest for Governor.
He said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere in line with standard political practice.
The government said it issued the clarification to prevent the public from being misled, citing concerns over what it described as repeated misinformation.
“While Sahara Reporters has a track record of publishing disinformation, we are issuing this clarification to prevent the public from being misled by deliberate falsehoods. We would ordinarily ignore such baseless reports, but the need to reassure Lagosians makes this response necessary,” the statement added.
The government advised the public to disregard the report and treat it as false.
“We advise the public to disregard the Sahara Reporters story and treat it as fake news,” the statement said.
