The Imo State Government Friday distanced itself from reports that Governor Hope Uzodimma faulted the Appeal Court judgment that acquitted and discharged the embattled leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The governor has since placed the blame at the opposition People’s Democratic Party and former governor Emeka Ihedioha’s doorstep, saying they allegedly sponsored fake news to tarnish his image.
In a statement he signed in Owerri on Friday morning, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, deplored what he described as “satanic and vile propaganda and falsehood” being perpetrated against the governor all in the name of politics.
According to him, at no time did the Chief press secretary to the governor or any official of the government speak to the press concerning the Appeal Court judgment.
He also said the governor as a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria who believes in the rule of law could not have queried the judgment as insinuated by the fake news.
“We are aware that Ihedioha after his ill-advised attacks on Ndigbo where he called them saboteurs is desperately trying to drag His Excellency to the mud he enmeshed himself in. But this infantile stunt is a new low for him,” Emelumba said.
He noted that after the series of successes recorded by Uzodimma in governance and other national assignments, Ihedioha and PDP have been trying to whittle down his popularity.
The commissioner declared that those familiar with the character of the state Governor would affirm that he has never criticised the judiciary even when judgments did not go his way in personal matters.
He described it as the height of mischief and perjury for the opposition in the state to attribute such a comment to Uzodimma.
He also made it clear that Uzodimma as a compassionate philanthropist would never rejoice in the misfortune of anyone.
Emelumba reiterated his call for the managers of public information to be circumspect in the discharge of their duties.
He said, “The fake news didn’t attempt to answer the fundamental questions of 5Ws and H, which are who, what, when, where, why and how concerning any news story.”
He asked Nigerians to ignore the fake news as neither the governor nor any of his aides have reacted to the Appeal Court judgment on Nnamdi Kanu.
