“These are delicate times and there are forces out to turn Nigerians against each other. I will never publish an article on WhatsApp. Please be wary of fake news!”
These were the words of the Senator representing Bayelsa east, Senatorial district, Ben Murray Bruce against the background of a news making the rounds claiming that he said that northern leaders own majority of the oil blocs in the Niger Delta region.
In a message to newsmen today, Tuesday, Senator Bruce said such news is fake and warned that there are “forces out to turn Nigerians against each other.
“Beware of fake news. There is a write up circulating on WhatsApp about oil wells purportedly from me. I never wrote such.” Senator Ben Bruce It is fake news. I have a backpage column in ThisDay and verified Twitter and facebook profiles. Anything I write is published on these platforms.”
A news story had trended on WhatsApp, alleging that Senator Bruce had said that while northern leaders and traditional rulers own many oil wells in the southern region, the monarchs in the Niger Delta region do not have any to their names.
Some of the traditional rulers in the north named as owners of oil wells in the message include Emir Mohammadu Sanusi of Kanu and Sultan Abubakar Sa’ad of Sokoto. [myad]
