From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Abia State government has accused opposition groups of spreading false rumours about an impending teachers’ strike, labelling such claims as baseless.
During a press briefing in Umuahia, Commissioner for Information Okey Kanu stated that Governor Alex Otti’s support for teachers and workers negates any basis for industrial action.
Kanu condemned the opposition for circulating “fake and malicious news” on social media to mislead the public and discredit Otti’s administration. He said, “They have resorted to saying things the governor never said or ordinarily would never say because of who he is and what he represents.”
He warned that such actions could violate the Cybercrime Act, adding, “At times they have tried to say things that would pit the federal government or certain ethnic nationalities in the country against the governor and his administration.”
While welcoming constructive criticism, Kanu stated, “What this government frowns at, including all right-thinking and patriotic Abians, is the recourse to fake news.”
He outlined Otti’s 23-month achievements, contrasting them with the opposition’s 24-year tenure, saying, “The opposition is so piqued that they couldn’t do in 24 years what this administration has done in 23 months.”
Addressing teachers’ concerns, Kanu noted that the State Executive Council has directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, to engage with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to resolve any grievances promptly.