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| Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, Delta PDP Publicity Secretary. |
The Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Delta State has debunked
claims of any financial sleaze in the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa,
describing the statements of the All Progressives Congress (APC) released in
quick succession as “heartless campaign against truth and justice.”
The PDP state publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza in a
statement today, April 8, 2020 while also describing the APC statements as
unnecessary distraction at a time when Deltans, the nation and the global
community is faced with the challenge of coronavirus.
Full text of the PDP statement reads:
PRESS RELEASE
08th April, 2020
DELTA APC AND ITS HEARTLESS CAMPAIGN AGAINST TRUTH AND JUSTICE
IN A TIME OF GREAT DANGER TO THE HUMAN RACE
The Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has
responded to the recent press release by Mr. Sylvester Imonina, Publicity
Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC in the State,
describing it as a heartless campaign against truth and Justice and an
unnecessary distraction at a time when Deltans and indeed the nation and the
global community is faced with one of the greatest challenges to the existence
of mankind; the Corona Virus.
Reacting to the APC Press Release titled: "Sack Appointees
Whose Interests Are Against Deltans - APC Charges Okowa," the Delta State
PDP Publicity Secretary Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza wrote thus: "We wish to place
on record that the PDP is a political party whose priority is to secure the
lives and ensure the safety of every Deltan, from any form of aggression,
intimidation, threat or harassment.
This is why we are greatly disturbed by the fact that at a time
when Deltans are mourning the sad and unexpected killing of one of our sons,
Mr. Pessu Joseph, who was cut down in the prime of his life, and when Delta
State as a whole is joining the global community to battle the spread of the
deadly Coronavirus and its attendant Covid-19 pandemic, the APC is more
concerned with mundane issues like misinterpreting video clips and dwelling on
unsubstantiated fraud allegations, published in the social media by platforms
that lack any journalistic credibility.
At a time when the global community is faced with the real
danger of a deadly pandemic that is threatening and has the full capacity to
wipe out the entire human race, including members of the APC as well, if not
checked, the Delta State Chapter of the party is busy asking for the sack of
public officers and distracting Deltans with allegations of non-existent fraud.
How heartless and wicked can a political party be than this?
There's an African proverb which says that the Fox must be
chased away first and after that, the Hen might be warned against the danger of
wandering into the bush, if necessary. For the APC spokesman to claim in his
write up that "Deltans are still yearning for the sack of the Commissioner
for information for his ignominious defence of those soldiers who threatened
the lives of Warri women/Deltans" ....is a clear indication that the man either
does not know what Deltans are yearning for at this point in time in the
history of our existence, or he is perhaps living and operating in a different
world from planet Earth, where the word 'Coronavirus' or the threat of
Covid-19, does not exist at all.
Be that as it may, there is the need however, for us to put the
matter in proper perspective for posterity. First of all, there is no denying
the fact that at least THREE VIDEO CLIPS had gone viral and were trending on
social media that day, all referencing the Warri situation. But sadly the one
singular incident which must remain indelible in our hearts is the fact that in
the midst of all the fracas that happened in Warri on that fateful first day of
our stay-at-home directive, we lost our son, brother, father and friend, Mr.
Pessu Joseph to the cold hands of death. That is the enduring and most
important story of the Warri Covid-19 lockdown. May his gentle soul rest in
peace. Amen.
Secondly and for the records, the Defense Headquarters of
Nigeria had issued a press release, signed by no less an authority than
Major-General John Eneche, Coordinator, Defense Media Operations, disowning
what it had described as the “malicious videos,” adding that the videos were
old clips of past incidents that took place in 2012 and 2013 respectively and
they were being used by some mischievous elements to tarnish the image of the
Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The DHQ statement had read in part: “Those videos are
misleading, as they are not related to the present military engagement of the
Armed Forces of Nigeria towards the lockdown on COVID-19. The Nigerian Armed
Forces see those clips as calculated attempts to tarnish its professional
integrity by some mischief makers,” the DHQ statement had noted.
Then, the Nigerian Army, in a series of tweets on its verified
Twitter Handle had also broken the news by itself, that: “Soldiers in a viral
video using uncouth and uncivilized language purportedly threatening to molest
women in Warri Delta State were arrested at 9 Brigade Ikeja Military Cantonment
Lagos State today 3 April 2020 and further investigation is ongoing. The
general public should be assured that the investigations will be swift and fair
in accordance with applicable military laws. The outcome of the investigations
will determine the most appropriate disciplinary measures that can be taken in
the circumstances.
‘The Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it would not
tolerate any form of irresponsibility and indiscipline on the part of any of
its personnel,’ the Army statement had disclosed.
“We wish to state categorically that the Delta State
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, a seasoned journalist whose
sterling track record in the profession is impeccable and unquestionable, can
hold brief for himself any day, but even with his excellent credentials, he
does not have the authority in his capacity as a State Commissioner for
Information or the status, as the spokesman of a State government, to dictate,
compel or instruct the Defense Headquarters of Nigeria or Major-General John
Enenche, Coordinator Defense Media Operations, to issue a press statement which
quite coincidentally and conclusively corroborates the facts that the reference
was to 'videos' and not a particular video clip as the APC would have Deltans
and the rest of the world believe.
“The intentions of the APC by over flogging the issue of video
is akin to calling a good dog a bad name just to hang it and we boldly assert
that Mr. Charles Aniagwu’s comments on the content of the said videos, that
trended on social media on that day, were in tandem with the positions of the
Defense Headquarters and the Nigerian Army High Command.
“As for the matter of the now-retired Accountant General of
Delta State, Mr. Cyril Agbele, we are quite amused by the fact that the APC
will rely on a spurious publication of unsubstantiated allegations, in an
online platform whose credibility is even questionable, to cast aspersions on
the glittering career of a man who has served Delta State diligently in his
hallowed position as well as two democratically elected Governors and
administrations meritoriously.
“Two points will however suffice, to address this bizarre and
diversionary fraud allegation. First and without trying to join the APC in its
silly ethnic jingoism argument, we wish to remind them that Mr. Cyril Agbele
was appointed by a Governor from Delta South, precisely from the proud Itsekiri
ethnic nationality and he, as an Ika man, served this Itsekiri-born Governor
meritoriously for two consecutive terms of eight years. Interestingly he has
only served his 'brother' for only four years and he is now retired.
“Secondly, the APC publicist claims he is a lawyer so he must be
very much aware that the EFCC is a "law unto itself" in Nigeria. It
has no respect for anybody, including Governors, politicians and even civil
servants, so for Mr. Imonina to even suggest that; ‘On the issue of the
allegations against the Accountant General, APC, Delta State challenges the
Governor to allow the law take its full course, despite the fact that the
Accountant General is his "man Friday" from the same Ika Nation with
him...’ amongst other silly conjectures in that paragraph, shows that the APC
is not even aware that the EFCC has invited Mr. Agbele severally to clarify
financial issues concerning the State in his days as Accountant General and the
Commission certainly does not need the prompting of APC to do its job if the
need arises.
“In addition, the State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Fidelis
Tilije has stated emphatically that he is not aware of any petition or any N14
billion fraud or even anything relating to a N14 billion fraud or even any
fraud in the government or for that matter, any committee set up by the
government to investigate any fraud. He also adds that this is not the first
time that Mr. Cyril Agbele in his days as Accountant General, is being linked
with such spurious and unfounded allegations of fraud, for which he has come
out clean in every instant. It is therefore baffling to fathom why the APC is
so desperate to accuse the Commissioner of complicity on the strength of a
badly written and misleading story, in a Ministry where it (the APC) has no
knowledge or authority to comment on its processes.
“The APC, of course, has the right to ask for the resignation of
any Government official based on whatever it deems fit as its reason. After all
Ibrahim Shekau and Boko Haram have been releasing all kinds of obnoxious and
offensive videos against the Nigerian people and Government and even our party
has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Service Chiefs or even resign
since they have failed the country woefully in terms of security.
“But the last time we checked, General Muhammadu Buhari was
still the President of Nigeria and all the Service Chiefs were still in their
duty posts. None of them has resigned or has been sacked, despite the
monumental failure of the entire security apparatchik in Nigeria to defend the
Country against Boko Haram. President Buhari, to borrow the weak phrase of the
APC publicist, has not written his name in gold just yet and Nigerians are
actually yearning for him to do so one way or the other.
“On a final note, we wish to once again commiserate with the
family of Mr. Pessu Joseph for the monumental loss of their son. As a
responsible political party of the people, we take the death of any Deltan
under any circumstance seriously and while our heartfelt condolences go out to
the family, we are happy to note that some persons connected to the Warri
incidents of that fateful day have been apprehended and we urge the authorities
to ensure that anyone found guilty or culpable will face the full wrath of the
law.
“As for the greater issue of the Corona Virus which confronts us
today not just as Deltans but indeed as the members of the human race, we want
to once again appeal to all to adhere strictly to the Public Health Guidelines
and Precautionary Directives issued by the medical authorities and the State
Government.
“We have suddenly entered a most crucial and critical period in
our collective effort to stem the spread of this Corona virus in Delta State
and while we confidently assure all Deltans that the administration of Governor
Ifeanyi Okowa has put all the structures in place to address and contain this
virus as it enters our State, our greatest weapon against the spread however is
for us to maintain social distancing, to wash our hands regularly with soap and
clean water and to use hand sanitizers as regularly as we can.
“The State government has introduced measures to help cushion
the harsh effects of the lockdown and stay-at-home directive on Deltans. The
periodic markets have started in selected schools and we are happy to note that
our representatives and political office holders and appointees are providing
foodstuff and other items for our people across the State irrespective of
political party or affiliation. We have also set up our food bank and we will
soon start the distribution of foodstuffs and other palliatives to Deltans, we
wish to express our profound gratitude to all those who have identified with us
and contributed in one way or another to support the Delta State government, as
we face this pandemic with courage, unity, and resilience.
“Please Deltans, stay at home and stay safe. Together, we will
defeat and outlast the Corona Virus and save ourselves from Covid-19 by the
special Grace of God. Amen.”
God Bless Delta State.
Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza
State Publicity Secretary,
PDP, Delta State.
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