Former President Goodluck Jonathan has distanced himself from a trending Instagram account operating under the handle @goodluck_ebelejonathan, describing it as fake and misleading.
The clarification was made public through a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, who warned Nigerians to be cautious of individuals using the former president’s name and image online without authorization.
According to the statement, Jonathan does not own, operate, or maintain any personal Instagram account, contrary to claims being circulated by the page.
Eze explained that the account has repeatedly changed its identity over time, sometimes presenting itself as a fan page and at other times impersonating the former president directly, creating confusion among followers and members of the public.
The former president’s office expressed concern that unsuspecting Nigerians could be deceived by content shared through the account, especially when it appears to speak on Jonathan’s behalf.
The media aide further revealed that the Instagram username has reportedly been changed multiple times in an apparent attempt to avoid detection and scrutiny.
He urged members of the public to disregard any posts, statements, political comments, endorsements, or messages originating from the account, stressing that they do not represent the views of the former Nigerian leader.
Jonathan’s office also called on Meta, the parent company of Instagram, to take appropriate action against the account and address the issue of impersonation on the platform.
The warning comes amid increasing concerns over fake social media accounts used to impersonate public figures, spread misinformation, and mislead followers online.
Citizens were advised to verify information from official and credible sources before engaging with or sharing content attributed to the former president.
Source: NAN
