28th January, 2022
By Douglas Okoro
The Ebonyi chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended Gov. Dave Umahi over the declaration of former lawmaker, Mr Linus Okorie, wanted for alleged malicious publication in the social media.
APC said this while reacting to criticism of the Governor by the opposition-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the declaration of the lawmaker wanted
Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, Ebonyi APC Chairman admonished PDP to refrain from supporting undemocratic tendencies and fanning the embers of war and political violence in the state.
He said that Gov. Umahi only directed the police and other security agencies to declare the former lawmaker, Mr Linus Okorie, wanted over the malicious social media publication ascribed to him.
He described the statement as inciting, saying that the publication led to loss of lives and valuables in Ikwo Local Government Area recently.
“Remember that state governors are the Chief Security Officers of their various states.
“On this premise, it is incumbent on them to devise lawful means in a very proactive and reasonable manner to ensure that the oath of securing the lives and property of their citizens they took is not in anyway jeopardised.
“Do you expect the governor to fold his arms and do nothing when the former legislator made an inciting facebook publication which constituted a security breach?
“Do you expect the governor to fold his arms and watch crisis engulf the state?
“Your guess is as good as mine in this scenario.
“PDP should go and learn how to be in opposition rather than pose itself as a threat to our democracy, which has endured.
“It should also understand that no one, no matter how highly placed, has immunity against violence.
“When it erupts, it consumes everything along its path. The party shouldn’t throw caution to the wind,” he said.
Okoro-Emegha, who is also the Special Security Consultant to Ebonyi Government, described fake news and hate speeches as “worse than the unknown gunmen.
“Fake news and hate speeches can provoke tension and cause people to go to war for no justifiable reason,” he said.
He expressed the hope that the Ebonyi Cybercrime Law 2021 would not be a toothless bulldog that allowed unscrupulous elements to cause the innocent and law-abiding citizens unnecessary inconveniences.
“I, therefore, charge PDP to shun acts inimical to peace and allow the law to take its full course on the matter.
“No one should be afraid of the law because its implementation is aimed at bringing sanity to the entire society by assuaging defamatory publications,” he said.
The embattled former lawmaker represented Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly between 2011 and 2019. (NAN)