AKWA IBOM- A pressure group, Akwa Ibom Alliance for Democracy and Good Governance, has advised social media campaigners against making baseless and misleading comments about the arrest and detention of an online troll, Michael Itok, by the Department of Security Service, DSS.
The group’s coordinator, Comrade Saviour Udotai, who stated this at a press briefing in Uyo, on Thursday 12th December, appealed for calm to allow the law take its course.
“We have read with dismay several atrocious claims by sponsored agents over the detention of one Michael Itok by the DSS over defamatory statements he published on Facebook against the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.”
“As concerned Akwa Ibomites who are desirous of partnering with the state government in the task of building a vibrant economy, we are constrained to state that the time has come for us to depart from acts of blackmail, hate speeches and fabricated lies that are spewed from a selfish point of view to de-market the state for pecuniary gains”.
He said that it is common knowledge that the current administration in that state has shown high level of tolerance to criticisms, even very malicious ones.
The group says those misguiding the public about facts of the case should allow the law take its full course.
Below is full text of the press statement:
RE: DETENTION OF MICHAEL ITOK
Let the law take its course
We have read with dismay several atrocious claims by sponsored agents over the detention of a miscreant named Michael Itok by the DSS over defamatory statements he published on facebook against the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
As concerned Akwa Ibomites who are desirous of partnering with the state government in the task of building a vibrant economy, we are constrained to state that the time has come for us to depart from acts of blackmail, hate speeches and fabricated lies that are spewed from a selfish point of view to de-market the state for pecuniary gains.
It is common knowledge that the current Akwa Ibom state Government has shown above-board level of tolerance to critics and criticisms even in the face of sponsored malicious attacks and will continue to do so.
On the detention of Michael Itok, we advise his cohorts to rest on their oars and allow the law take its full course. Where and when they feel the law has fallen short of their expectations, we advice they should seek a redress as provided by the extant laws of Nigeria.
Enough of this backward acts of blackmail.
