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From Isaac Job, Uyo
Akwa Ibom state government said it has not suspended the Coordinator of the office of the First Lady Mrs Helen Eno Obareki contrary to local media report in the state .
A local tabloid “The Guide” had reported with banner headline that governor Umo Eno had lock out Mrs Helen Obareki from office and demolished the building in Akwa Ibom Government House .
A statement signed by the Commissioner of Information Hon Aniekan Umanah and made available to Journalists in Uyo described the report as “false and misleading and a wild fabrication from the figment of its contrived
imagination”
Umanah further stated that the local tabloid has crossed the red line of professional ethics adding that the report should be consigned to a trash bin for lack of merit and credibility needed in ethical journalism practice.
The statement reads in parts:
” The Akwa Ibom State Government has categorically dismissed as spurious and entirely false a report published by The Guide Newspaper alleging that Governor Umo Eno has suspended his daughter, Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki, from her position as Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady and locked her out of the office building
” For the avoidance of doubt, Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki remains the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady”
Umanah explained that the said office building was under renovation not demolished to locked out the coordinator of the office of the first lady as alleged in the publication
“The building housing the office is currently undergoing renovation. The newspaper’s allegation is a wild fabrication from the figment of its contrived imagination. The Government challenges The Guide Newspaper to produce the alleged suspension letter or any evidence to substantiate its claim”
The Commissioner of Information therefore called on the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists in Akwa Ibom to caution the publishers of the newspaper against publications that mislead the public
“Press freedom does not confer a licence to fabricate stories and mislead the public
” The Government will not stand by and allow the circulation of falsehoods to go unchallenged
” This statement therefore serves as a firm and final warning to the newspaper to desist from publishing falsehoods
” Any further breach will attract appropriate legal action, and the Government will pursue all lawful remedies available to protect its interests and the reputations of the persons concerned.
“The Government also calls on the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to caution the newspaper against the continued publication of false reports capable of misleading the public.”
