LAGOS JULY 21ST (URHOBOTODAY)-Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has denied report of releasing a suspected murderer from prison as published by Saharareports, describing the allegation as a figment of the very fertile imagination of the authors, fueled as it were, by the rabid animosity of the online medium to him.
Refuting the allegation in a statement signed by Aniagwu Charles, Chief Press Secretary to Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor said his first instinct upon reading the false, misleading and patently malicious report was to ignore it in its entirety and not dignify it with a response, but have a change of mind hence the medium has formed the habit of publishing false allegations against him before he became the governor of Delta State.
“Against the backdrop of the age-old adage that too many lies when left unchallenged begin to wear the garb of truth, we are under a solemn obligation to put the records straight for the benefit of the unsuspecting readers and members of the general public,” the statement disclosed.
The statement explained that the allegation is at best another futile effort by some persons, working in cohort with, and riding on the platform enthusiastically provided by Sahara Reporters to impugn the image and integrity of an innocent man and to distract him (Governor Okowa) from effectively implementing the “prosperity for all Deltans agenda.
“This is not only an untrue and uncomplimentary footnote on the Police force, but also not really representative of the Nigeria Police which we know is independent of the state governor, very professional in the discharge of its duties and highly disciplined.
“It is indeed unfortunate that in the unbridled quest to tar Governor Okowa with a black brush, Sahara Reporters have unwittingly dragged the image of a very respected and reputable state institution in the mud. This must be condemned in the strongest of terms,” the statement stressed, just as it pointed out that prior to Okowa emergence as the governor of Delta State, he had always emphasised the need for the strict adherence to the rule of law, due process and the tartan respect for the prosecutorial powers of security agencies.
“Our initial position was not only informed by the track record of Sahara Reporter’s penchant for willfully maligning political office holders who they consider as belonging to persuasions other than their approved, yet hypocritical “Progressive Elements”, but more so those who appear un-amenable to their whims and caprices.
“We were also guided by Sahara Reporter’s proven personal and unprovoked disdain for the person of Governor Okowa as evidenced by the catalogue of malicious publications against him even before he was popularly elected as the Chief Executive of Delta state.
“Perhaps, it is pertinent to add that during the 2015 electioneering campaigns, we were compelled to ignore these reports as we felt they were the handiwork of political opponents. However, this latest onslaught appears to prove our suspicions as clearly unfounded.
“What is however undeniable, is the personal, unprovoked animosity of this medium against Senator Okowa, going by the established patterns of mudslinging against him,” the statement noted.