PROTOCOL:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press;
Our meeting with you today is necessitated by the desire of this committee and positive change 2011 to put facts straight to disabuse the minds of the general public on the campaign of calumny embarked upon by some groups on the aspiration of Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe as Governor, Akwa Ibom State come May, 2011. That defamatory publication is credited to a non existing group, one Ibibio Youth Conscience and carried by few media houses in the state at the risk of being seen as irresponsible, bias and ignorant of media laws, professional ethics and social responsibility of protecting societal senses against falsehood that are born out of bias and intention to harm.
From our investigations, we have realized that the group, called “Ibibio Youth Conscience” is non existing group. If at all, it exists as a vacuum where sponsored political snipers hide to disseminate falsehood and media attack on perceived enemies of Governor Akpabio's Administration.
We in this campaign team would not have bordered to respond to that ill intended screed, if not to disabuse the minds of the public and to inform them properly since it is generally believed that a misinformed society is a deformed society unfit for habitation by sane minds.
The intention of the said advertorial was to set this campaign outfit on collision with the media in the state as Positive Change 2011 has all legal grounds to take up law suit on the defamatory publication and claim damages. The ploy by the sponsors of the said advertorial is to thwart the effective coverage of events which the media, especially local/privately owned media have given to the campaign for Positive Change 2011.
Upon discovering this intention, ladies and gentlemen of the press, we wish to state as follows:
1. That we in the publicity/ strategic committee for Positive Change 2011 are grateful to the press for the coverage and reportage of our activities so far.
2. That while the media should seek for and obtain adverts for their financial growth, it should not allow themselves to be ridiculed and used by just any group of touts and cultists to rage with bitter falsehood on revered personalities like distinguished Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, a former Council Chairman, Senator and Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
3. That the contents of the Advertorial of Ibibio Youth Conscience are false in its entirety, sponsored by sycophants and disgruntled propagandists to ensure continuity of the Godswill Akpabio's Government.
4. That we are not disposed to fighting with the media as the sponsors of this defamatory publication want us to and as such, we advice the media to stop using the said advertorial or any other negative ones in future as they may not only damage our Governorship Aspirant's reputations, but are capable of causing serious disaffection and uproar against the peace of Akwa Ibom State. Just as we are serious minded in maintaining the cordiality existing between this team and the media, we shall not hesitate to demand for compensation on further damages from media houses that may publish defamatory advertorial or negative reports against our Governor-to-be or our campaign organization and damn the consequences.
If the media compromise their profession by allowing themselves to be used to castigate and defame Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, the people's choice in the 2011 governorship election, what happens if he (Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe) becomes the Governor of Akwa Ibom State come May, 2011? From supports so far received from the public, he shall win the Akwa Ibom State 2011 Governorship election be it on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP) or any other Party we may use to contest the governorship and other elections in the State. After all, PDP is not or will not be our Egypt.
5. The Media must not take side in this struggle, but must give all contestants the opportunity to be heard positively.
6. That those behind the advertorial should come out open with facts to substantiate their allegations, either through documents, photographs or video clips as is obtained in other such allegations outside Akwa Ibom State. Where this is not done, we demand from the group and the media e.g the Community Shield, Community Quest, Global Newstrend, to mention but a few and other newspapers used retractions of that publication and unreserved apology to the people of Akwa Ibom State over such image attack on our Governor to-be.
7. While we anticipate such retractions and apology, we urge the people of Akwa Ibom State to discountenance that gimmick and continue in their supports to the aspiration of Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, a man of great political strength and will to redeem the state, and a man of noble character.
8. Positive Change 2011 is an Akwa Ibom broad political platform highly supported to enthrone people friendly Governor in the person of Senator John Udoedehe in 2011. So far, we have received unprecedented supports from across the State. Just last week, a former Commissioner from Oro Nation donated a storey building at Oron to serve as Positive Change 2011 zonal office for Oron Federal Constituency. We have received sets of computers to equip our campaign office. A group has donated fifty thousand (50,000) T-Shirts, Caps and Umbrellas with Senator John James Udoedehe's insignia for onward distribution when we kick start the campaign, while another group donated two generating sets to give constant power supply to the offices. We are indebted to those donors and we shall not be intimidated by false publications by any faceless group of detractors.
9. That we shall not end this struggle until kidnapping, politically motivated killings, selective empowerment, character assassination, poverty and hunger, cultism and other vices are eliminated from our society. These will be done when Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe emerges as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State come May, 2011.
Finally ladies and gentlemen of the Press, let me seize this opportunity to inform Akwa Ibom people and indeed Nigerians, that Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe Campaign Organization, “Positive Change 2011” is not anti or enemy of Chief Godswill Akpabio's Government as we are being branded to be by the uniformed, irresponsible sycophants and disgruntled people of this State. Members of the Positive Change 2011 are all card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We are not only out to overthrow this government, but all we are out to also achieve is to change a bad to a good and listening government a government that will bring joy, peace, prosperity, harmony and love to all Akwa Ibom People in the years ahead.
This being the case, we should not loose sight of the fact that in a democratic setting such as ours, there must be an opposition. And “Opposition” in a democratic society is always regarded as an alternative Government.
Thank you and God bless.
Rt. Hon. (Obong) Thomas O. Akpan
Chairman, Publicity /Strategic Committee
For positive Change 2011.
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