The Ekiti state government has reacted to an alleged cheap blackmail from an online news platform, Sahara reporters. The government in a Press release on Sunday signed by the Special Adviser on media to the state governor, Yinka Oyebode expressed surprise that the news platform could succumb to such publication.
The statement reads:
“The attention of the Government of Ekiti State has, again, been drawn to another misleading and fictitious report by Sahara Reporters on the Governor of the State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, who is currently on a working visit to the United States of America.
“The highly fallacious report is coming barely 72 hours after the State Government, through a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Yinka Oyebode, debunked Sahara Reporters’ mischievous claims about the Governor’s trip and gave fresh clarifications on the Governor’s itinerary in the course of the working visit to the US.
“Apparently propelled by ulterior motives, and ashamed of owning up to its unprofessional reportage, Sahara Reporters within the space of 72 hours came up with another hurriedly baked story, which, at best, was filled with “sound and fury signifying nothing”. Or how else does one explain the unfounded claims by Sahara Reporters that the trip gulped $500,000 and that 20 people were on the Governor’s entourage.
“The fictitious figures, we dare say, exist only in the wild imagination of Sahara Reporters and its sponsors.
The Government of Ekiti State is not unaware of Sahara Reporters’ satanic alliance with some elements in the society who are out to distract the Governor and the Government. It is, however, shameful that Sahara Reporters would allow itself to be used for such a ridiculous assignment, which is dead on arrival.
“At the appropriate time those using Sahara Reporters as a tool for cheap blackmail would be named and shamed in line with our culture in the Land of Honour.
“It is important to place on record that His Excellency Biodun Oyebanji remains focused on all- round development of Ekiti State through effective implementation of his six -pillar development agenda. He remains committed to the administration’s shared prosperity agenda and a thousand and one lies and sponsored stories by Sahara Reporters and its traducers cannot distract him.
“As a responsible Government, we also consider it appropriate to re-state here that Governor Oyebanji followed due protocols in embarking on the trip, which was well publicised. He has not exceeded the time allocated for the trip. He has not derailed from the purpose of the trip and he would be back in the country this week at the completion of the outlined tasks.
“We urge well meaning citizens of the state and Nigerians in general to disregard the dubious publication which is bereft of substance”, the statement said.