Posted by By Sun News Publishing on
A socio-political group, Rivers State Elders Consultative Group, has described former Minister of Culture, Alabo Graham Douglas, and former OMPADEC Chairman, A. K. Horsefall, as 'liars and purveyors of falsehood."
A socio-political group, Rivers State Elders Consultative Group, has described former Minister of Culture, Alabo Graham Douglas, and former OMPADEC Chairman, A. K. Horsefall, as 'liars and purveyors of falsehood."
In a statement issued in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital weekend, the group accused Alabo Douglas, Chief Horsefall and other members of Rivers State Elders and Leaders Forum, of political desperation by orchestrating falsehood against the former Governor of the State, Dr. Peter Odili.
It would be recalled that the Rivers Elders Forum had accused Dr. Odili in an Abuja based newspaper of sundry misdemeanours during his tenure in office.
The spokesman for the group, Chief Samson Agbavu, expressed dismay that otherwise respectable individuals like Chief Horsefall and Alabo Douglas could make such wild allegations all in a bid to tarnish Dr. Odili's image and impugn his character. He warned that they would 'no longer watch in silence while evil men continue to spread lies against a God- fearing man of honour and principles, like Dr. Peter Odili."
He maintained that the allegations contained in the publication form a consistent pattern of character assassination, mud slinging, defamation and blackmail against the person of Dr. Odili.
'Obviously, these allegations were continued by political desperados who tend to see Dr. Odili as a stumbling block to the realization of their petty political ambitions.
The campaign attained epic proportions just before the PDP presidential primaries, when these same people spread similar allegations and caused same to be published widely in the mass media, purporting it to be authentic reports by AIG Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
'The EFCC has stated unequivocally on the record that it never issued any such report. In other words, the report, which Alabo Graham Douglas, et al relied on, for their defamatory letter was false, non-existent and a total fabrication ab initio," he added.
The statement said the group decided to speak out now because, 'Dr. Odili has suffered enough in the hands of such character assassins who have obviously mistaken his silence for weakness. Whereas, we agree with him that 'the truth will eventually prevail and history vindicates the just," we, however, insist that 'enough is enough!"
'We use this medium to serve notice to all future purveyors of falsehood that the period of dignified silence is over. From henceforth we will not watch idly while evil men impugn the character of a decent man, a God- fearing man, a man of honour and principles, a worthy leader and statesman - accomplished professional and nationally acknowledged performer, Dr. Peter Odili", the statement added even as the group enjoined President Umaru Yar'Adua to call the Rivers Elders Forum to order.