The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has described as ‘fabrication and smear campaign of calumny’ a news story in which he was alleged to have said that “Fulani herdsmen were not killers of Benue people and also plan to repeal the anti-grazing law in the state.
A statement by the Alialization ’23 Alia/Ode Governorship Campaign Organization while debunking the story, stated unequivocally that the news story was targeted at de-marketing Rev. Fr. Alia whose wide acceptability and popularity amongst the Benue masses has become a nightmare to his political opponents.
The statement which was signed by Kula Tersoo, Director of Communications of the Organisation noted that political opponents now feel that the best way to undo Fr. Alia is by resorting to cheap blackmail and sponsorship of malicious and fake stories.
Tersoo said; “We challenge the publishers of that sponsored malicious and fake story to produce any recording or other evidence to prove that Alia actually made such statement.
“If not for a fact that the publishers of this sponsored blackmail were out to desperately satisfy their paymasters, what has happened to the ‘Where’ in the story, as professionally required of a news story? Why not mention the venue where the alleged statement was made?
“Alia has done a painstaking consultation and has proper grasp of how insecurity is being perpetrated in Benue state.
“He is clearheaded on strategies on how to tackle the perturbing issue of Fulani attacks, killings and displacing of natives in Benue communities. This, he has captured in his blueprint and has never shied from speaking about it.
“What he has however consistently pointed out is that security issues are not tackled by propaganda the manner the present PDP-led administration of Samuel Ortom is doing without protecting the people.
“So, we call on the publishers of this obvious obnoxious blackmail to retract this story and tender apologies, else we shall be left with no option but to seek legal redress,” he said.
