The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Tuesday raised the alarm that his alleged criticism of Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum was spun by agents of fake news.
While stating that he has no personal grudge against Zulum, Idris expressed shock that what initially started as a slight case of misunderstanding soon degenerated into a conflict, with people taking sides on both divides.
The minister made the clarification at the second edition of The Spokespersons Summit organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja
His defence comes barely 48 hours after former Abia Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu backed Zulum, saying it was wrong of the minister to downplay the seriousness of insecurity, especially the activities of insurgents in Borno State.
A few days ago, the governor raised the alarm about the dire situation of his state following an explosion, which occurred on the major road linking the state capital, Maiduguri, to Damboa, killed at least eight people, severely injured seven others, and left 14 more with minor injuries.
Following the concerns he raised, Idris was alleged to have argued that Borno is safe, contrary to reports that security agencies seem to be overwhelmed by terrorist activities in the state, a statement that infuriated the governor.
Reacting, Zulum faulted the minister, describing him as “naive” about the country’s security realities.
On Tuesday, Idris, however, lamented that he was a victim of a fake news peddler, who specifically pictured him against the governor.
He said, “Lately, due to the lack of media literacy—the inability to analyse and contextualise media content to verify authenticity—public officers, and indeed the general public, have become increasingly prone to the cankerworm of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
“I was at UNESCO discussing the menace of fake news a few days ago when someone sent me a link to something that has already gone viral in Nigeria. I thought it was one of the things that we see.
Remember that I had gone there to discuss fake news, its impact and its ability to create serious problems for any society; I was at that time receiving my own share of what fake news could do. What began as a very simple commentary was turned on its head and I saw something else emerging.
“Not even the execution by my own office to ensure that people do the right thing by informing them that this is the actual thing I pushed out received audience. No one wants to listen. This tells you what fake news and disinformation can do. We have to watch that so it doesn’t tear this country apart.”
Speaking further, the minister urged spokespersons to continually enhance their ability to evaluate news articles, identify potential biases, assess the reliability of sources, and adopt fact-checking mechanisms to effectively distinguish between accurate reporting and misleading content.
He further commended the President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, for introducing an outstanding feature —the Information Ministerial Clinic—where Nigeria’s past ministers of Information can share their experiences.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were former Ministers of Information—Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief John Nwodo, Mr. Frank Nweke (Jnr), Labaran Maku, and Lai Mohammed.
Earlier in his speech, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who was inducted as a Fellow of NIPR, also warned about the danger of misinformation.
“In an era when misinformation can spread faster than facts and erode public trust, the necessity for honest, clear, and inclusive communication cannot be overstated.
“Too often, ‘public relations’ has been misunderstood as mere spin or propaganda, yet integrity in communication is the cornerstone of a thriving democracy.
“When practitioners and spokespersons adhere to ethical standards, they empower citizens to make informed decisions and hold leaders accountable,” he stated.
