From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Abia State government has condemned the opposition for spreading false rumours about an impending teachers’ strike, calling the claims baseless and unsubstantiated.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, who made the accusation while briefing journalists in Umuahia, said that, based on what Governor Alex Otti is doing for teachers in particular and workers in general, there was no cause for such a strike.
He noted that recently, fake and malicious news has been spread on social media platforms, sponsored by the opposition with the intention of misleading the public about the governor’s performance, and he sounded a note of warning to them.
He said they (the opposition) have resorted to spreading falsehoods, claiming things the governor never said just to malign and misrepresent him and reminded them of the Cyber Crime Act, which could be invoked for their excesses.
“They have resorted to saying things the governor never said or would never say because of who he is and what he represents. At times, they have tried to create divisions between the federal government or certain ethnic nationalities and the governor and his administration. More often than not, we have chosen to ignore their macabre dance and pastimes as harbingers of fake news.
“Let me remind the naysayers that this administration is not averse to constructive criticism. What this government frowns upon and what all right-thinking and patriotic Abians reject, is the spread of fake news.
“Let it be put on record that at the outset of this administration, the governor promised to bring hope and help to Abians.”
He said that in the last 23 months, the administration had delivered more than just hope, which he stated was why the opposition, which did not perform for 24 years while in power, is trying all it can to discredit Otti and his government.
“The state government may not be where it is supposed to be or where it desires to be, but it is worth noting that in 23 months, quite a lot has been accomplished, and there is still a lot more to be done given the commitment of this administration.
“So, the opposition is so piqued that they couldn’t achieve in 24 years what this administration has done in 23 months.”
Kanu, however, said that the State Executive Council has directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, to meet with the Nigeria Union of Teachers, adding that any grievances they have will be addressed head-on.