I woke up this morning (12th September 2017) to several calls, all of which drew my attention to the Publication made by News Wire NGR (an Online Media, I suppose), with a caption: "Amaechi’s Former Aide Linked to Fake Premium Times Facebook Page".
I must say as a citizen of Nigeria that I am perplexed and worried at the depth of this plot and how far people could go to cover up their crime; but as someone who has been within the precincts of "Nigerian Politics and Politicians" for awhile now, this kind of unwarranted desperation and cover up might not be too strange to me. I hasten to say that the entire plot, though very cowardly and improperly executed, is an act of treachery, blackmail concerted by some desperate and disgruntled politicians from Rivers State. Of course, I assure them all that I shall get to the root of this plot and bring them to book.
MY REACTION TO THE NEEDLESS AND UNFOUNDED PLOT.
Following a phone call from one Henry who claimed to work with a media outfit called NEWS WIRE, I became aware that my phone number and email address were fraudulently affixed and used on a Facebook account; and from his (this) publication I discovered that PREMIUM TIMES NEWS had also issued a disclaimer to the allege "fake Facebook Handle". I hereby state unequivocally that I have nothing whatsoever to do with the said Facebook handle and I dare anyone who has any evidence to the contrary; i.e. linking me to the account, to speedily bring them forward.
MY PERSONAL INVESTIGATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS.
Following the call and subsequent publication of the article by the said Henry and NEWS WIRE, I took time to observe the articles and posts on the so called fake Facebook page; NEWS WIRE website; and Premium Times website, I found the following:
1. Most, if not all, of the articles on that page were articles originally shared on other Facebook accounts/handles operated by political supporters of the Governor of Rivers State, Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, especially one of his Social Media Aides.
2. Few of the publications/posts shared on the said fake Facebook account contained articles in which the said supporters of Governor Wike had attacked my person on Facebook and all such posts were fabricated.
3. Most, if not all, of the posts on the alleged fake account were against the All Progressives Congress, my Political Party and also against my political leanings.
4. The NEWS WIRE, which published this malicious article against me, had in the past used/shared two of the post on the alleged fake Facebook Premium Times handled on their platform.
5. The NEWS WIRE, on their platform had in the past shared some stories almost verbatim with other online media platforms managed and operated by the said Social Media Aides of Governor Wike.
6. Premium Times News had in October 2015 written a categorical story concerning the said fake Facebook account published on its website. The titled was: "Gov. Nyesom Wike’s loyalists open fake PREMIUM TIMES Facebook page for deception, propaganda". In that article, Premium Times New also wrote that: "The page started out as a Nyesom Wike Support Group. The page’s permanent URL (https://www.facebook.com/nyesomwike2015/) clearly shows this." http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/192283-gov-nyesom-wikes-loyalists-open-fake-premium-times-facebook-page-for-deception-propaganda.html.
QUESTIONS ARISING
The entire episode has left too many unresolved questions, which have highlighted my suspicion and conclusion that this is all about blackmail and cover up. A few of the questions:
1. Since my phone number and email address were disclosed on the purported fake Premium Times handle; why didn't Premium Times News contact me directly, after all the purported injury was to Premium Times News.
2. The NEWS WIRE, claimed to have acted based on the disclaimer of Premium Times New and after investigation. However, the publications show that Premium Times News issued the disclaimer on 11th September 2017, and after 2 hours on the same day and date, NEWS WIRE NGR came up with this article? Might both publications have been prompted by one source, again by the said Governor Wike's Media Aide?
3. Looking at the speed of response by NEWS WIRE NGR: was NEWS WIRE put on standby by Premium Time News or any other person in anticipation that Premium Times New would publish the said disclaimer.
4. In view of the earlier post/publication by Premium Times News on 28 October 2015 accusing Gov. Nyesom Wike’s loyalists of opening fake PREMIUM TIMES Facebook page for deception, propaganda, is Premium Times News now doing a coverup for Governor Wike and his Social Media Aides? Why would Premium Times News do this now? For how much or at what cost is this U-Turn?
ACTION SO FAR TAKEN
Although the allegation by the NEWS WIRE NGR is criminal in nature and the general principle of law is that I am presumed innocent until proven guilty and which would have meant waiting for my accusers to prove me guilty. However, I shall not take that route. I prefer to prove myself innocent. In that light, I have petitioned some persons to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of Department of State Security; Facebook for necessary action. I have also instructed my Lawyers to take civil action against Premium Times News and NEWS WIRE.
MY SIDE TO THE CONVERSATION WITH ONE HENRY
I did not intend to respond to the fooleries of the author of that article, however for posterity sake, I wish to state my side to the story of the phone call incident.
Yesterday, 11th September 2017, about 3.30pm, I got a call from an unfamiliar telephone number: 0803 258 3531, while in legal briefing with my client. The caller, if a journalist as claimed, apart from lacking in professional ethics and telephone etiquette, was exceptionally rude. Not a courtesy of properly identifying himself to the person on the other side of the telephone. Every bit of information I obtain from him as to his identity was at my prompting. The caller initially refused to identify himself and when I insisted on knowing who it was that I was to have a conversation with, he simply said "Henry", without more. Every attempt to have him identify himself fully and properly, was deliberately avoided.
The caller, albeit very rudely, called me to say that Premium Times News published a disclaimer on a Facebook page and that my phone number was on the page and he immediately questioned: "are you the owner of this phone number?" I asked for the link to see the said phone as it was the most appropriate thing to do and he gave the link, after he had alleged that I would not return the call. I saw the link which of course had my phone number and my old email address.
I did returned the call to hear what the caller had to say, but this man repeatedly bashed me with the same question: "are you the owner of the phone number?. I said, "of course you are speaking to me through the same phone number" he simply said thank you and was ready to drop the call. I asked him if he could envisage the probability of anyone else planting my number on that page, but he wasn't interested. I proposed that if he was a journalist then we should meet, he tried to ward me off by saying he was in Abuja and that I was in Port Harcourt. As soon as I confirmed to him that I was in Abuja too, he declined the meeting. I tried to warn him of the consequences of his actions and he rebuffed and I assumed him that I would see to it that he was arrest and brought to book, it was then he retorted that he was a journalist and works with a Media Outfit called News Wire. I dare him to publish the record of the conversation.
I wish to once again dissociate my self from the fake Premium Times Facebook account/handle. Accordingly, I hereby demand an apology and retraction from the Management and Publishers of NEWS WIRE, or they should bring forth the evidence which led them to such malicious conclusion, despite the categorical and unequivocal statements already made by Premium Times News itself.
Signed
Achinike William-Wobodo
12/09/2017.
