Our
attention has been drawn to a fabricated report in the Monday December 14, 2015
edition of the Daily Trust suggesting that the National Publicity Secretary of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh warned pro-Biafra
agitators to desist from disturbing the peace of the South-east zone.
This
report is completely false as the National Publicity Secretary never made such
a comment at the PDP South East Executive meeting in Enugu on Sunday or any
other fora for that matter.
For the
avoidance of doubt what Chief Metuh said on the agitation was that Nigerians
have the right to demonstrate as long as they do so peacefully and within the
ambits of the law. He deplored the actions of some security operatives who
reportedly went beyond their brief to attack unarmed protesters and admonished
that instead of engaging in show of power on the protesters, such security
agents should rather demonstrate their bravery by joining others in fighting insurgents
in the Sambisa forest.
We are
therefore shocked by the distorted report that appeared in the Daily Trust,
which in no way whatsoever reflected the opinion of the National Publicity
Secretary.
We are
persuaded that this fabricated report may not be unconnected with the schemes
by the present administration to set-up and frame the National Publicity
Secretary for his outspokenness in highlighting its negatives, for which he has
been receiving threats, litigations, blackmails and unfounded allegations from
government officials.
But for
our conviction that Daily Trust is a credible and highly reputable newspaper,
we would have had no other option than to believe that it has lent itself to
the orchestrated campaign to silence the National Publicity Secretary.
While we
restate the fact that the National Publicity Secretary will in no way be cowed
to silence, we urge the media to always cross-check their facts before going to
press.
Signed:
Richard Ihediwa
Special Assistant to the
National Publicity Secretary
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