Global association of concerned Imo youths has condemned in strong terms the fabricated story of the attack of governor Hope Uzodinma's convoy yesterday and is also calling for their prompt arrest. In a press statement made available by it's director of press, Dr Haluchi Ikemefuna reads thus "The prompt refutal of a purported gun attack on the motorcade of Governor Hope Uzodinma is apt, but we want the full weight of the law to descend on the culprit(s) to serve as a deterrent.
Obviously the story is false. But what is true is that the fake news was invented, volleyed into cyberspace and viciously shared by cyber terrorists calling themselves the opposition.
The statement stressed that, while such disinformation is not new, the detractors spawned it nonetheless hoping to eclipse the record-setting airlift of the first batch of 1000 Imo pilgrims to the holy lands which the governor facilitated barely 24hrs. "This event is unprecedented and continues to dominate discussion and headlines country wide and must have knocked the wind out of self-styled opponents."
"The malicious story's sole objective was therefore to dampen our morale. What other fabrication could give the impression of a state in tailspin than a governor's convoy being pounded by armed criminals? Such nonsense might excite the cowards behind it, but it can demolish our delicate reputation as the premium business and leisure destination and with it our jobs, our esteem, our revenue."
Dr Haluchi maintained that this was why they demand an end to such madness. We are persuaded that if nothing is done, and promptly, too, to nip it in the bud, our enemies would have scare-mongered both potential investors and much needed visitors thereby leveling our buoyant hospitality scene sooner rather than later.
"The police must accept this challenge and make haste to restore sanity to our cyberspace. The Nigeria Cybercrime Act 2015 recommends that perpetrators face up to a term of 10 years or a fine of N25 million or both fine and imprisonment; depending on the severity of the offence. Unarguably, wishing death upon a governor is unacceptable cyber bullying of the most severe kind. Prosecuting the masterminds of the mentioned fake report is the least the police can do."