The immediate former Minister of Power Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, says he has not granted any interview since leaving office on 29 May 2023,
He said this while responding to some interviews attributed to him regarding the power sector.
“I wish to inform the public that I did not grant any media interview since leaving office over a year ago. The interview published by some blogs and news sites with my name and my picture have nothing to do with me and did not emanate from me,” Aliyu said in a statement issued by his media office.
He urged the public to disregard the interview being circulated, saying an investigation is ongoing on the matter.
“In one instance, an interview granted to a television station by another former minister of power who shares the same surname with him was attributed to Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu,” the statement read.
The minister urged news websites and blogs to verify and thoroughly check their details before publishing.
“A media organization has a duty to ensure that whatever it is sharing is accurate and factual. That is the fundamental ethic of journalism that protects the integrity of the media,” the former minister said.
He also urged journalists and bloggers to pay appropriate professional attention to details and names and photos while publishing stories to ensure that facts are accurate and to avoid confusing and conflating names, facts, personalities and issues.