By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Convener of Big Tent Professor Pat Utomi, has disassociated himself from what he described as a phantom list from President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s camp listing him as one of the ministerial nominees.

The list which made its round on social media on Tuesday has personalities like former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and Ex-governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, among others.

A statement by Big Tent Coalition for ObDatti signed by the Coalition's Director of Media and Communication, Charles Odibo, said that nothing can be further from the truth.

The statement partly reads: “We have been in constant touch with Professor Utomi who has been out of the country for over two months working on his new book, and he has confirmed that he has not held discussions with anyone with regard to any government appointment.

He therefore urges Nigerians to ignore the obviously fake list associating him with the new Federal Government.

“We recall that this will be the second failed attempt in nearly three months by the purveyors of the fake news to link Professor Utomi with the new government.

“In a statement in March entitled “President Elect Already Working To Move Nigeria Forward,” these same fifth columnists atrociously stated that “Pat Utomi and Emir Sanusi, to lead the planning for Nigeria’s growth and development.”

“Our initial instinct was to ignore this illusory piece of fake news and thereby not dignify the purveyors with a response, but after deep reflection and in consideration of the peace of the graveyard that pervades the nation we consider it expedient to dismiss this unfounded fake news and re-assure the teeming Obidients at home and in the diaspora that the Convener of Big Tent, Professor Utomi, in conjunction with the leadership of Labour Party, is committed to the cause of retrieving the mandate that Nigerians gave to Peter Obi at the polls on February 25, 2023.”

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