Reports that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State was reportedly sighted leaving Ohafia to the Igbere country home of Senate Chief Whip and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu is false and a cheap propaganda according to the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos.
Appolos, in a statement signed by him, described the story as offensive and despicable especially in a time the state and nation was facing serious crisis.
He warned those spreading the news to desist from doing so or face the legal consequences of their actions.
Read full statement:
“Press Release
Re: “After 5 Years of Avoiding Kalu, Ikpeazu Runs to Igbere Camp Neya to Hide”
Our attention has been drawn to a fake publication titled “After 5 Years of Avoiding Kalu, Ikpeazu Runs to Igbere Camp Neya to Hide”, and wish to state as follows.
1. The apparent propaganda material was authored by a media aide of the former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, and circulated by him to bloggers who were willing to be used by him.
2. The media aide known as Peter Eze was properly confronted and warned not to push out the offensive conjecture but he lied about his involvement whereas we have incontrovertible evidence that he did not only author the material but that he also circulated it to some bloggers.
3. Attempts made to reach Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to call his media aide to order were not successful as his phone was busy all through the time and he also did not respond to messages sent to his phone.
4. It is despicable that at a time of crises in the state and the nation, an aide to a leader of APC and former Governor of a State will find time to engage in baseless and infantile propaganda that serves no purpose except to further heat up the state and country.
5. For the avoidance of doubt, between the so called Camp Neya in Igbere and the Government House in Umuahia, which is a safer location for a sitting Governor if at all there is imminent danger to his life? Or are we being told that Camp Neya is a place for stockpiling arms and ammunition to protect politicians and fugitives from the law?
6. It is important to note that this same Peter Eze, possibly acting on instruction from his principal, has been responsible for generating and circulating adverse propaganda materials against the government and people of Abia State without being called to order until he was caught red handed.
7. The subterranean sponsorship of such fake propaganda materials has long been proved to be responsible for most of the conflicts between political leaders in Abia State with consequences to the development of the state, and we wish to draw the line and strongly call for an end to it.
8. Abia needs peace and unity to develop rapidly as desired by the people and our founding fathers. Every well meaning political leader in the state must therefore know that there is time for politics and time for governance which has as its dividends, peace, security and development.
9. Let Peter Eze and whoever is sponsoring him on this futile mission of mischief note that any further provocation by their camp will no longer be tolerated.
10. We hereby give Peter Eze and all those he hired to share the malicious propaganda 24 hours to remove the fake publication, apologize to Governor Ikpeazu and the people of Abia State or face legal actions.
Thank you.
Enyinnaya Appolos
Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor
22/10/2020”
