A socio-political group, called the United Abia Artistes and Patriots, says it will take legal action against any individual or organisation that peddles falsehood against Abia Government to destabilize the state.
The Convener of the group, Dr Osita Offor, said this at a news briefing on Wednesday in Umuahia.
Offor said that the group was focused on promoting democracy and civil rights as well as any cause that would contribute to the development of the state.
“We have recently observed the desperate efforts by some individuals, under the guise of opposition, trying to drag the name of Gov. Alex Otti in the mud with different kinds of propaganda, half-truths and complete falsehood,” he said.
According to him, the opposition in the state should not be engaged in generating negative propaganda to tarnish the image of the government, but provide alternative ideas and criticizing with facts and figures.
Offor said, ”It is disappointing that all the opposition in Abia does is peddling cheap lies and hurling insults on the leadership of the state and when government officials reply in the same vein, they cry blue murder.”
He said that anyone or organisation that instigated any situation capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the state would be considered an enemy of Abia.
He said that it was normal for the attention of the government to be drawn to areas that it needed to improve on.
“But it should be done constructively with facts and not with false accusations.
“Opposition remains a fundamental aspect of democracy and we will stand by any group, party or individuals, who are carrying out opposition activities within the tenets of democracy.
“But we will not allow any group of charlatans to allege what they cannot prove and get away with it,” he said.
Offor commended the government for its efforts to transform Abia to an investment haven and added that “all hands must be on deck” to support the rebuilding agenda of the present administration.
“We are stakeholders in this state and our interest is for the growth and prosperity of Abia and we will contribute our efforts to see that the state progresses,” he said.
