Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has damaged his silence on the reported attack on a Benin-based comedian, Osagie Idieda, popularly often called MC Porkupyne.
DAILY POST recollects that the comedian was reportedly attacked within the early hours of October 24 whereas coming back from the birthday celebration of the spouse of an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain.
Okpebholo spoke on Tuesday when he acquired members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo State Council, on the Government House, Benin City.
Okpebholo alleged that intelligence gathered by the federal government linked the reported assault on the comedian to cult-related activities.
He described allegations of presidency involvement within the attack as pretend information.
“I heard the incident occurred at 1 a.m. I used to be in Kaduna State after I noticed the incident on social media, and so they attributed it to the federal government. This is pretend information.
“But intelligence gathering reveals that it’s cult-related. I requested him concerning the identities of those that attacked him. He informed me that he did not know them. He mentioned they have been sporting masks. So, if anyone desires to beat you at night time, will they put on a masks?
“When I requested concerning the variety of suspects, he mentioned they have been eight. So, you have been in a position to rely the quantity of people that beat you, however you can’t recognise who they’re. So, for me, that’s pretend information,” he mentioned.
The governor urged members of the general public to rely on credible stories from skilled media organisations reasonably than unverified claims on social media.
According to him, “There are so many issues down right here on social media. They are pretend.”
The governor additionally refuted stories alleging that he had sacked his Chief Security Officer, CSO.
“So, if my CSO had travelled for coaching, as a result of you haven’t seen him for 2 days, you mentioned he is been sacked. That isn’t journalism. That is pretend information. That is social media,” he added.
Okpebholo recommended journalists for his or her contributions to nationwide unity and peaceable coexistence.
The governor famous that journalists had performed important roles in defending democracy and protecting Nigerians knowledgeable, typically working underneath troublesome and harmful situations to be sure that the general public acquired details about occasions throughout the nation.
“You folks have contributed to Nigeria’s democracy. You fought for what we’re having fun with at present. You fought for the peace of Nigeria. You fought for the unity of this nation, and also you stay in our hearts,” he acknowledged.
He added that journalists deserved recognition for his or her dedication to data dissemination, noting that their work remained important to the functioning of democracy.
