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 faux information.
“I heard the incident occurred at 1 a.m. I used to be in Kaduna State once I noticed the incident on social media, they usually attributed it to the federal government. This is faux information.
“But intelligence gathering exhibits 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 stated they had been carrying masks. So, if any individual desires to beat you at evening, will they put on a masks?
“When I requested concerning the variety of suspects, he stated they had been eight. So, you had been in a position to rely the quantity of people that beat you, however you can not recognise who they’re. So, for me, that’s faux information,” he stated.
The governor urged members of the general public to rely on credible experiences from skilled media organisations moderately than unverified claims on social media.
According to him, “There are so many issues down right here on social media. They are faux.”
The governor additionally refuted experiences 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 stated he is been sacked. That shouldn’t be journalism. That is faux information. That is social media,” he added.
Okpebholo counseled 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, usually working beneath troublesome and harmful situations to make 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 immediately. 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 info dissemination, noting that their work remained important to the functioning of democracy.
