Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has spoken out against an alleged obituary photo of his boss that surfaced online.

Recently, rumors spread that Minister Wike had collapsed at an event in Abuja on Friday. Some social media users on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) even claimed that he had passed away, sharing an ‘obituary photo’ to back their claims.

However, Wike disproved these rumors when he appeared in public on Sunday. He led FCT community leaders on a Sallah visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House, putting to rest speculations about his health.

Reacting to the situation on his official X handle, Olayinka accused Nollywood actress Hilda Dokubo of being involved in fabricating the story. He claimed that she was allegedly paid by Wike’s political opponents to spread the false report.

According to Olayinka, those behind the rumors had staged Wike’s obituary picture and added other misleading details to make the story more believable. He further alleged that Dokubo and others had deceived their sponsor into believing that the false report would harm Wike politically.

This controversy has stirred reactions on social media, with many condemning the spread of fake news and misinformation. Meanwhile, Minister Wike continues to carry out his official duties, unaffected by the rumors.