- Threatens legal action against online publisher
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A security expert and former Director, Department of State Service (DSS), Mr Mike Ejiofor, has refuted comments credited to his name against the political fortune of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi.
An online platform, Opera News, in a report titled, “Obi is Going Nowhere As Far As God Lives; If Igbos Want A Representative, It’s Not Peter Obi – Mike Ejiofor,” had accused Ejiofor of commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for playing a paternal role in his appointments.
The medium further alleged that Ejiofor had said that despite receiving fewer votes from the South East in the previous lection, Tinubu has acted as a father figure for the nation by addressing the grievances of the South Easterners.
.
But Ejiofor in a statement issued Thursday, described the report, as a total falsehood, misleading, baseless and the imagination of the writer.
He stated that he only discusses security issues and tries to suggest a way forward in addressing security challenges confronting the country.
“I was shocked by the purported report and comments credited to my name. I am not a politician and I don’t discuss political issues. As a security expert, I talk about security challenges confronting the country. On no account did I make such a statement.”
Adding: “I have never discussed anything against Peter Obi or any political figure. I have been receiving calls and flaks over a comment I did not make”, Ejiofor stated.
He called on the purveyor of the fake news, Opera News, to immediately retract the story and tender an unreserved apology for attempting to drag his name into dirty politics.
He insisted that he is a security expert and not a politician, and as such, nobody should drag him into politics or attempt to smear his reputation.
Meanwhile, Ejiofor said he has already contacted his lawyer and will not fail to institute legal action against the publisher of Opera News for failing to instantly retract the “reckless and baseless report.”
Ejiofor also used the occasion to caution publishers against fake news, stressing that such an unguarded statement was capable of inciting violence and creating unnecessary animosity among groups and individuals.