The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Bayelsa State Chapter has dismissed a statement credited to the State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Bayelsa State chapter, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, alleging that Governor Douye Diri is hounding members of the opposition party with the police.
A statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Ebiye Ogoli described the accusation as ridiculous, unfounded and frivolous.
The accusation came on the heels of the arrest of an APC member and social media influencer, Ebikpoemi Ugo by the police over alleged accusation against the Bayelsa state government bothering on financial palliative from the federal government to Bayelsa state.
Ogoli maintained that the Governor, Senator Douye Diri and the PDP led government of Bayelsa State had no hand in the arrest of Ebikpoemi Bobby Ugo, a social media henchman of APC, by the police.
The statement reads “Our investigations revealed that the police arrested Ebikpoemi Bobby Ugo, who is notorious for fabrication and social media bullying, over alleged defamatory and inciting false claim that the Federal Government released a sum of N150million to the State Government to tackle the ravaging flood in the state when nothing of such ever happened.
“Our party is surprised that rather than the APC assisting its member to substantiate his bogus claim with evidence, it resulted to mudslinging which has become the party’s pastime over the years.
“For the avoidance of doubt, under the watch of Senator Diri, our party has continued and will continue to respect the right of the citizenry to freedom of speech and expression in line with the democratic dictates.
“However, no sane society will encourage hate speech, malicious statement and defamation.
“We have cause to believe that the unfounded and bogus claim by Ebikpoemi Bobby Ugo and his cohorts of the APC, that Bayelsa State Government received a sum of 150 Million from the Federal Government was to undermine the well-loved Governor, ridicule his great efforts at mitigating the impact of the flood and provide succor to thousands of citizens who are now dejected and abandoned by the APC Federal Government.
“Governor Diri is a consummate democrat with proven credentials for peace and tolerance and he is too decent to ask police to lay siege on members of the opposition party.
“He is not the Governor of any particular political party whether, the PDP or APC but rather he is Governor of all Bayelsans.
“In spite of this standpoint, the Governor will not prevent the police from discharging its responsibility under the law.
“We advice that instead of continuously casting aspersion on the person of our dear Governor, the accused person should seek safety from the court if he is truly being oppressed or suppressed by anyone.”
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