Renowned political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has vehemently denied his alleged inclusion in a purported list of new appointees and ministers under the administration of President Bola Tinubu. The said list has been making rounds on social media, falsely claiming that Utomi and several others will be serving in Tinubu’s government. In a statement released through his Director of Media and Communications, Charles Odibo, Utomi urged Nigerians to disregard the list and labeled it as a baseless fabrication.
According to Utomi, “Nothing can be further from the truth.” He characterized the list as yet another failed attempt by purveyors of fake news to tarnish his reputation or falsely associate him with the incoming government. The statement clarified that Utomi has been overseas for the past two months, working on his upcoming book, and has not engaged in any discussions regarding a government appointment.
The statement read, “We have been in constant touch with Utomi, and he has confirmed that he has not held discussions with anyone regarding any government appointment. Therefore, he urges Nigerians to dismiss the obviously false list connecting him to the new Federal Government. It is worth noting that this marks the second unsuccessful attempt in nearly three months by these purveyors of fake news to link Utomi with the new government.”
The statement also referenced a previous instance in March where similar false news emerged, claiming that “Pat Utomi and Emir Sanusi were listed to lead the planning for Nigeria’s growth and development.” Initially, Utomi chose to ignore that illusory piece of fake news, refusing to dignify the perpetrators with a response. However, after careful consideration and in light of the prevailing unrest in the nation, Utomi found it necessary to unequivocally dismiss this unfounded fake news.