The National Youth Council of Nigeria and all youth groups in the country have condemned in strong terms what the described as media trials and the desperation to tarnish the image and reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Nigerian Senate.
In a statement signed by the NYCN President, Amb. Solomon Adodo and made available to journalist in Abuja, the group underscored the importance of information in a democratic and developing society and frowned at those whose stock in trade is misinformation for political and selfish reasons.
According to the statement, “information is key, especially in a democratic society like ours. Accurate and reliable information about national issues and events is the cornerstone of objective journalism. However, some mischief makers have mastered the act of misinformation through twisted logic and deliberate falsehood to sway public sentiments and blackmail their adversaries.
“The recent controversy surrounding the conviction off Professor Peter Ogban and the deliberate attempt to link his criminal record with the impeccable personality of Senate Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Nigerian Senate is one of the dangerous manifestations of falsehood deliberately targeted at the character and personality of an innocent man.
“To those who feel Senator Godswill Akpabio is a threat to them, nothing is too inglorious for them to do in order to paint him bad light. First, it was Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who was pushed forward to contest supremacy with the Senate President on the floor of the Senate over an issue clearly sorted out in the Senate Standing Orders.
“When she was slapped a suspension which she rightly merited, she resorted to lies and blackmail. This was simply a script to discredit the Senate President but again she failed as even the courts found no merit in her fabrications and desperation.
“Another script from the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan camp which was designed to implicate the Senate President in an organ harvesting scandal, similar to what happened to Senator Ike Ikweremadu was also uncovered. A certain Dr. Sandra did not just refuse to be involved into an unethical conduct but went ahead and exposed those who were behind it. This falsehood and negativity also failed and with a perpetual hatred for the Senate President, the vultures are out to score cheap points over the recent conviction of Professor Peter Ogban.
“The misinformation that the Senate President benefitted from or committed electoral fraud following the conviction of Prof. Peter Ogban, a former INEC Returning Officer, is highly misleading and just one of the many sinister plots aimed at undermining the current administration.
“If not deliberate mischief, how can any right thinking individual conclude that Ogban rigged the election in favour of Akpabio when in reality, he announced Akpabio’s opponent as the winner and it was at the tribunal that Akpabio regained his mandate?
“This is nothing but deliberate, sponsored and calculated falsehood and misinformation intended to harm the towering political image of the Senate President who has been seen by many lovers of democracy as an ideal candidate for President after Tinubu’s 8 years.
“It is a dangerous enterprise for anybody to willfully distort very obvious facts like these just because they want to score cheap political points. To even think that very highly placed Nigerians believed this twisted falsehood and even propagated it on notable media channels is disheartening.
“As Nigerians, the exposition of this deviously orchestrated misinformation charade should awaken us to be more critical of whatever we see in the media especially against persons with distinguished track records. We must put aside our biases, political differences as well as personal interests and unite towards fighting our common enemies.
The text ended by urging the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio “to remain steadfast and committed in his duties”, adding further that, as a youth group, we shall continue to give him the needed support to carry out his duties. Our doors are open to partner and collaborate with the Nigerian Senate since we have confidence in the Senate leadership and the good work they’re doing”
