The Bayelsa state government has openly come out to refute and distance itself from an audio file circulating online, in which a man who alleged himself to be the chief of staff to the Bayelsa state governor, Chief Benson Agadaga was heard beseeching Vijah Eldred Opuama of Liberation Movement party over Vijah’s pending petition before a tribunal sited in Abuja.
The letter- signed by the acting Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa state governor, Daniel Alabrah, and forwarded to the news room of NAIJA LIVE TV in Yenagoa- contains the government’s stance as having no knowledge of the said appeal by the man who claimed to be the chief press secretary. The letter reads:
“The attention of the Bayelsa State Government has been drawn to a vexatious audio in circulation on the social media, which impugns on the integrity of the State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Yenagoa, Chief Benson Agadaga, and that of the state government.
The audio also attempts to malign the reputation of Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, particularly Honorable Justice Mary Odili.
In the audio, a man claiming to be Chief Benson Agadaga was heard appealing to Mr. Vijah Inowei Eldred Opuama, who is the candidate of the Liberation Movement in the November 2019 governorship election in the state, over issues bordering on the latter’s petition before the state governorship election tribunal sitting in Abuja.
The same man also claimed in the audio that the Supreme Court Justices were purportedly working with them.
Unfortunately, the voice of the man in the audio claiming to be Chief Benson Agadaga does not tally nor correspond with that of the Chief of Staff as well as his standard of English. It was a poor concoction with an intention to deceive the unwary.
The state government wishes to put it on record that none of its officials is involved in the shenanigans to taint the name and reputation of every respected Jurist in our country.
The government also states that this is yet another ploy by the Liberation Movement candidate, Vijah Eldred Opuama, and his sponsors in a well-known opposition party in the state to divert attention from the issues before the governorship election tribunal. Rather than face the substance of their case in the tribunal, they have sadly elected to engage in whipping up of sentiments on the social media in order to attract and curry undeserved sympathy.
We further state that the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri, and his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, remain focused and undeterred by the diversionary tactics of the opposition elements, who already know that their case lacked substance and had fallen flat at the tribunal.
We emphatically aver that neither the Governor, the Deputy Governor nor the state government at any time ask any of its officials to contact or enter into discussion with the said Vijah Eldred Opuama or anyone for that matter with respect to the issues before the election petition tribunal.
The state government therefore distances itself from the said audio and is ready to take actions in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to unravel those behind it.”
Following the allegations against the governorship candidate of the Liberation Movement party, Vijah Eldred Opuama, as being the architect behind the forging of the audio file and using it to his own advantage, Opuama has also publicly come out to refute the claim and declare it nonsensical. In his words:
“So government officials do not have jobs to do but to defame and accuse Vijah Eldred Opuama of acting the audio note. I was hoping to hear ‘we have traced the number and have identified the individual who claimed to be Chief Benson Agadaga in that audio.”
If a government cannot investigate such little matter properly, how can such government protect its citizens? It is clear that these folks were never prepared to lead the people of Bayelsa.”
Not stopping there, Opuama went further to thank the people of Bayelsa state who has stood by him through the thin and thick and also assured them not to let down their support.
“Thank you my dear Bayelsans. In the past few weeks, I have enjoyed the fullness of your raw love. I am so humbled and more inspired.
Thank you so much for your positive wishes and the little financial support and even the recharge cards you guys have been sending to show your support.
Thank you, for your SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook messages and voice calls to encourage me in this venture.
You people have made it clearly known to me that this is OUR matter.
The responsibility on my shoulders is ginormous but it is so light in weight, because of the unfettered support I enjoy from you all.
I promise to keep two things until the logical conclusion of this matter and beyond.
- My integrity
- Your TRUST in me.
Thank you
Similarly, as regarding the deregistration of 75 political parties, which Vijah Eldred Opuama’s political party, Liberation Movement, is one of them, he has come out in the open to declare that he is not afraid of what is to come, and has in the same vein thrown a warning to oppositions that “…Since you believe that INEC has deregistered my party please tell your lawyers not to come to court on Monday, 1stJune,” apt to note that the tribunal sitting would be held on Monday, the 1st day of June.
It is noteworthy to state that Opuama’s stance to go ahead with the case, even though INEC has deregistered his political party, is justified, following the provision of the election compendium that allows for individuals to present election petition individually without associating themselves with any political party. Hence, Opuama ispursuing the case individually and not under Liberation Movement party, for now.
As the Bayelsa governorship tribunal aims to finalize the case on Monday, the 1st day of June, NAIJA LIVE TV promises to keep you abreast on the outcome.
Kindly contact us @ Naijalivetv@gmail.com
Call or Whatsapp: 07035262029, 07016666694, 08129340000
