Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel has directed security agents to clamp down on those who perpetuated mischief and falsehood by linking him to a malicious statement in the social media.
Dissociating himself from uncomplimentary remarks credited to him by some social media platforms, Emmanuel said he never described any of the Presidential aspirants in the just-concluded national party primaries as a “talkative.”
The Governor who fielded questions from Government House Correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on return from a brief official trip to Abuja, said “It is all lies and I stand here to reaffirm again that I didn’t make such a statement.
“It is not in my character to make such a statement and I want to believe that the law enforcement agencies will look into this because if this is not put to check, malicious people will cause a whole lot of confusion.”
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The Governor said such acts of falsehood should not be tolerated, insisting that politics should not degenerate into character assassination for selfish desires.
“Let me thank those who don’t believe such report, you look at the character of people and you can deduce what they can say and what they can’t say.
“Somebody just goes and tweets such falsehood, and it confirms what the Bible says that the heart of man is desperately wicked There are people that are like that and if you want to see such mischief, come into politics,” he explained.
Prosecution under Cyber crime law
The Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act 2015 tackles cyber crime in Nigeria. Under Section 24 of Act says:
‘Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems or network that –
(a) is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be so sent; or
(b) he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent: commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N7,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
(2) Any person who knowingly or intentionally transmits or causes the transmission of any communication through a computer system or network –
(a) to bully, threaten or harass another person, where such communication places another person in fear of death, violence or bodily harm or to another person;…
… commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction-
(i) in the case of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection to imprisonment for a term of 10 years and/or a minimum fine of N25,000,000.00;
It can be inferred from this section that the law has tried to catch up with the continuously growing use of social media in an effort to regulate its usage within the nation.
In another development, Governor Emmanuel called on PDP faithful to join hands in supporting the party’s Presidential candidate to victory.
He assured Nigerians that PDP is prepared to salvage the country from its present economic and security challenges.
The Governor spoke this Tuesday at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on his arrival from the PDP Presidential Primaries which took place over the weekend in Abuja.
Emmanuel explained that Nigeria as a nation needs a visionary and creative leader who is prepared to proffer solutions to the nation’s challenges, pointing out that the Presidential aspirants in PDP were qualified to offer their best in the race.
The state Chief Executive, who was one of the contenders for the Presidential seat, noted that he was challenged with the present situation and had to step in to offer his service for the betterment of the country.
“While I was vying for the Presidential seat in the primaries, I made one thing clear that I am only making myself available. If God wants to use me, I will partner to rescue and restore Nigeria.
“The situation today in Nigeria needs someone who is creative, who has the capacity, the exposure, the knowledge, the sincerity of purpose and also who has the love for the people, because we can’t be challenged when we have people’.’
”All of us that went in for the Presidential Primaries in PDP are capable to take Nigeria out of where we are. The quest is not about our selfish interest, it is about the future generation unborn, that is why we are out to tell Nigerians that we are ready to salvage the situation.”
The Governor, however, appealed to aspirants and party faithful to work together towards the success and return of PDP to leadership at the center, and assured that the party would deplore its resources in rebuilding the nation’s economy.
“Let me make an appeal, all of us can come back as a team to work for the success of the party, once the party takes center stage I am sure every one of us will have what to contribute.”
The Governor assured Akwa Ibom people that his administration is poised towards the completion of projects before the end of his administration saying, “we have put enough things on ground, the foundation of what will actually bring back the economic growth of this state.
“We have a lot to show. We are ending well. We are ending strong. Watch what will happen in the next 12 months,” Emmanuel assured.
