RE: STATE OF THE NATION: President Bola Tinubu appoints Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA) as Chairman - South South Development Commission(SSDC). The claim that President Bola Tinubu has appointed Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA) as Chairman of the South South Development Commission (SSDC) is false, and there are strong indications it may be a calculated act of blackmail. This piece of misinformation originated from a social media post attributed to one Kufre Sam, reportedly a Personal Assistant to the Minister of Gas and Petroleum, Ekperikpe Ekpo. The news went viral when one Victor Sage Thompson posted same information on his verified Facebook timeline. At the time of this report, there has been no official announcement from the Presidency or any credible government source confirming this appointment. The dissemination of this fake news, coupled with its origin, suggests a potential attempt to manipulate public perception or exert undue pressure, which aligns with characteristics of blackmail. Therefore, the news should be disregarded in it entirety as it lacks official verification and appears to be a malicious fabrication. ©️ Independent Reporters, Abuja