Rebuttal: Exposing the Falsehoods and Propaganda Behind the GistNews Article on Atiku and Nnamdi Kanu

Rebuttal: Exposing the Falsehoods and Propaganda Behind the GistNews Article on Atiku and Nnamdi Kanu

By Njoku Jude Njoku, Esq.

Rejecting Hate Journalism Masquerading as Analysis:
A recent article published on GistNews under the headline “Madagali Attack, Gulak’s Murder and Atiku’s Support for Kanu: Why We Must Reject Ex-VP” represents one of the most cynical exercises in political propaganda and disinformation yet to surface in Nigeria’s charged media space.

This article, written by one Philimon Apagu isn’t journalism; it’s a venomous op-ed masquerading as analysis, dripping with the kind of hyperbolic bile that screams “APC propaganda” and “British Anti-Biafra MI6 manipulation” from every paragraph.

Far from honest commentary, it is a smear piece constructed around innuendo, unverified claims, and emotionally manipulative language—designed to demonise Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and tarnish the reputation of anyone calling for fairness in his ongoing legal travails.

This rebuttal dismantles that article’s distortions, exposes its false logic, and situates the real facts that the writer either ignored or deliberately concealed.

False Claims Without Evidence:
The GistNews piece asserts that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB “killed thousands of Nigerians” and “enabled the murder of Ahmed Gulak,” yet provides no credible investigation reports, court convictions, or official findings to substantiate these sweeping allegations.

In any serious democracy, accusations of mass murder require proof, not rhetorical fury. Neither the Nigerian judiciary nor any competent investigative panel has ever linked Mazi Kanu personally or IPOB institutionally to the Madagali tragedy or the killing of Gulak. The writer’s reliance on slogans and emotional adjectives rather than verifiable data exposes a deliberate propaganda effort, not journalism.

Hope Uzodinma’s Official Statement Exonerating IPOB:
Perhaps the most damning evidence against the GistNews narrative comes from Governor Hope Uzodinma himself — the host of the late Ahmed Gulak on the day of his death.

In his official statement on May 31, 2021, Uzodinma described Gulak’s assassination as a “clear case of political assassination”, declaring:

“Let me make it very clear that my government has no hand in this tragic incident. We will allow the police to continue their investigation, and I assure you the guilty will never go scot-free.”
— Governor Hope Uzodinma, Press Statement, May 31, 2021 (Source: The Boss Newspaper)

Nowhere did Uzodinma blame IPOB or Mazi Kanu. In fact, the Governor’s acknowledgment that the murder bore “political” motives contradicts the false narrative that IPOB’s leadership was involved.

That the GistNews writer omits this official statement while pretending to “analyze” the event betrays intentional dishonesty.

Conflicting Reports and the Absence of Judicial Resolution
Even the Nigeria Police Force’s early claim that “IPOB members were neutralised” after the attack remains unverified and extrajudicial. No judicial inquiry, no forensic report, and no transparent prosecution have ever confirmed that claim.

On the contrary, IPOB immediately denied involvement, calling the allegation “false, cheap blackmail designed to demonise a lawful movement” (Punch, 1 June 2021).

In any rule-of-law society, a criminal allegation untested by a competent court remains an accusation, not a fact. The GistNews article violates this foundational legal principle.

Atiku’s Comment and the Fallacy of Guilt by Association
The writer’s attempt to vilify former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for supporting due process in Nnamdi Kanu’s case relies on the “guilt-by-association” fallacy.
Supporting the lawful and humane treatment of a defendant does not equal endorsing violence.

Indeed, Nigeria’s own Constitution (Section 36 (5)) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Cap A9, LFN 2004) guarantee every citizen the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial.
Atiku’s position—calling for justice to follow the law rather than mob sentiment—is consistent with democratic ethics.

Labeling such advocacy “soulless” or “monstrous” is the language of fascism, not democracy.

Emotional Manipulation and Hate Language:
The GistNews article’s repeated use of emotionally charged labels—“soulless,” “grotesque,” “vultures,” “monstrous atrocities”—is not analysis but emotional incitement.
Such rhetoric is the hallmark of state-aligned propaganda that seeks to provoke fear and moral panic instead of reasoned reflection.

A credible journalist would have interrogated evidence, cited legal documents, or verified facts. Instead, this piece deploys character assassination to silence dissenting voices sympathetic to constitutional fairness for Kanu.

Selective Outrage and Political Opportunism:
If the writer were genuinely outraged by national insecurity, they would demand accountability from those constitutionally entrusted with Nigeria’s internal security—not scapegoat a defendant standing trial under disputed jurisdictional grounds.
By weaponising tragedy to smear Atiku and Kanu while excusing government failures, the article exposes its allegiance: to power, not to truth.

The Real Issue: Rule of Law vs. Rule of Propaganda:
The central moral crisis in Nigeria today is not whether one supports or opposes Nnamdi Kanu—it is whether Nigeria remains a nation governed by law or by propaganda.
Demonising Atiku for defending due process, or Kanu for demanding self-determination within international legal norms, only erodes confidence in justice.

The principles of fair hearing, jurisdiction, and lawful rendition are not negotiable privileges—they are constitutional guarantees.

Conclusion: The Duty to Speak Against Manufactured Hate:
The GistNews article is a textbook case of how political actors exploit tragedy and misinformation to distort public perception. Its deliberate omission of Hope Uzodinma’s exonerating statement and its reckless use of unverified allegations confirm its partisan motive.

Nigerians must reject this descent into hate journalism. Whether one agrees with Atiku or with Kanu is immaterial; truth, fairness, and rule of law must remain the standard.

To allow propaganda to replace evidence is to surrender the soul of justice itself.

Issued by:
Njoku Jude Njoku, Esq.

for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Global Defence Consortium

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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