- APC, Activists Asks Commissioner to Apologize, Resign for peddling falsehood
From John Oghojafor(The New Diplomat’s South-South Bureau Chief)
Delta State Government had dismissed as “fake, false and concocted”, a viral video in circulation of two soldiers of the Nigeria Army allegedly threatening to rape women in Warri, Delta State while using unethical language to delineate citizens. But the State government’s position which soon turned out to be fake and false itself, is already escalating tempers.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling political party at the federal level as well as an army of activists have demanded a public apology from the State governor, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa while accusing the State government of peddling lies against Deltans, and standing against the very people it was voted to protect. In addition, the APC and activists have asked the State commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who dismissed the video clips as fake, false and concocted to equally apologize to Deltans , and step down for unethical and professional misconduct which tend to cast a slur on the reputation of Delta State.
This backlash is coming against the background of the arrest of the two soldiers reportedly captured in the viral video, threatening to unleash terror on residents of Warri, and rape protesting women who were angered by the killing of a Warri youth during the first few days of the lock-down order in the state.
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The two soldiers were reportedly apprehended by the Nigerian Army at 9 Brigade Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos. The soldiers in the video while purportedly using unprofessional language had also threatened to inflict HIV infection on Warri women over an alleged killing of one of their colleagues.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to disregard those videos. It is the handwork of false news propagators…Let me thank Deltans for their cooperation so far and urge them to discard the concocted videos aimed at causing disaffection between the military and Deltans. The concocted video clips were aimed at causing disaffection between Deltans and the security agencies carrying out lawful duties.”-Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu.
“The general public should be assured that the investigations will be swift and fair in accordance with applicable military laws. The outcome of the investigations will determine the most appropriate disciplinary measures that can be taken in the circumstances. The Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it would not tolerate any form of irresponsibility and indiscipline on the part of any of its personnel.” – Nigerian Army spokesperson, Col. Sagir Musa.
While confirming their arrest, Army spokesperson, Colonel Sagir Musa said the soldiers were arrested last Friday after the video in which they made the threats went viral on social media, stressing that investigation has commenced to determine the most appropriate disciplinary measures that would be taken in the circumstances against the soldiers. “The general public should be assured that the investigations will be swift and fair in accordance with applicable military laws. The outcome of the investigations will determine the most appropriate disciplinary measures that can be taken in the circumstances.The Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it would not tolerate any form of irresponsibility and indiscipline on the part of any of its personnel,” the Army spokesperson said.
Road to the Backlash…
The road to the crisis started three days into the 14 days lockdown ordered by Governor Okowa. While some residents were already expressing disappointment over the government’s handling of the lock-down with absence of palliatives to address citizens concerns about food security, the government had however maintained that the decision was in line with the state government’s resolve to protect the welfare and lives of Deltans during this trying period of covid-19. According to the State government, the order was to safeguard the lives of Deltans from the ravaging Covid-19.
However, barely 24 hours after the governor proclaimed the lockdown order, an overzealous soldier who was part of the security team mobilized to enforce the stay-at-home order reportedly shot and killed a Warri youth, Joseph Pessu, for allegedly disobeying an order for “ a stop and check” at an army check point in Ugbuwangue, a suburb of Warri, the commercial heart of Delta state.
This was greeted by protest as some Warri women allegedly protested the soldier’s action. In a sudden twist, two other soldiers allegedly threatened the lives of the protesting women, alleging falsely that the protesters had purportedly killed two soldiers.
The video clips of the threat by the soldiers to deal brutally against Warri residents immediately went viral on digital media with a cross section of Deltans condemning the unprofessional attitude of the soldiers.
Curiously, while reacting to the video, Governor Okowa, through his information Commissioner, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, dismissed it as concocted and misrepresented. Aniagwu stated that the purported video of two military personnel threatening the residents of Warri was an arrangement of those who didn’t want the peace of the state, adding that the video was not a true representation of the situation and events in Warri, Delta State.
He said: “Members of the public are hereby advised to disregard those videos. It is the handwork of false news propagators. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains undaunted and would not be distracted. Furthermore, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is committed to performing its constitutional roles towards ensuring the protection of our territorial integrity and the lives and property of the general public. Let me thank Deltans for their cooperation so far and urge them to discard the concocted videos aimed at causing disaffection between the military and Deltans. The concocted video clips were aimed at causing disaffection between Deltans and the security agencies carrying out lawful duties.”
However, less than 24 hours after Okowa’s puzzling denial of the alleged threat by the two soldiers to deal with Warri residents, rape women and infect them with HIV, the military high command, in a statement announced the arrest of the two officers accused of threatening lives of Deltans in Warri, adding that they were already being investigated over their actions.
In a series of tweets at its verified twitter handle, @HQNigerianArmy, the Army Headquarters, said: “Soldiers in a viral video using uncouth and uncivilized language purportedly threatening to molest women in Warri Delta State were arrested at 9 Brigade Ikeja Military Cantonment Lagos State today 3 April 2020 and further investigation is ongoing.”
In a baffling twist, while reacting to the statement from the Army headquarters, Governor Okowa commended the Army authorities for arresting the accused officers. In a sudden somersault, speaking on behalf of the governor, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu who had earlier dismissed the video as concocted and fake, back-padelled, and reversed self , thanking the army high command for restoring the confidence that Nigerians have on the military.
He said: “Let me on behalf of the Delta State Government thank the military high command for arresting the deviant soldiers who were bent on tarnishing the image of the army.The arrest of the soldiers in the viral video will no doubt restore the confidence of Nigerians in the military. It is worrisome that soldiers who were supposed to be highly disciplined would indulge in such acts of brutality and threats to women. We call on the military high command to carry out full investigation into the matter with a view to bringing the culprits to justice. As a government, we will continue to partner security agencies to ensure the peace and economic development of our state.”
This has consequentially raised flaks from residents. There have been a hailstorm of condemnations from Deltans, accusing Gov. Okowa of “insincerity and speaking from both sides of the mouth”. They also accused the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Aniagwu, who spoke on behalf of the Governor, of disinformation, adding that he completely breached a crucial ethical principle of journalism and communication profession which entails investigating a report before going public.
Describing the denial of the said initial response by the state government as most irresponsible, and an act of insensitivity to the plight of Deltans, the APC, opposition party in the state, chided the governor, saying he has failed in his duty as the chief security officer of the state to demonstrate his capacity to protect the lives and property of Deltans.
In a statement issued by the state publicity Secretary of the party, Barr. Sylvester Imonina, the party expressed surprise at the manner the government initially defended the military by dismissing the threat video, without bothering to cross-check thoroughly before going public with its position against the very Deltans he ought to defend.
He said: “Presently, what baffles Deltans and people of goodwill is the speed of light with which Delta State Government came out to create an excuse for those soldiers! Whose interest was the State Government, through her Commissioner for Information serving?The Commissioner for Information ought to know and should know that “a threat to any Deltan is a threat to their collective corporate existence and sacred humanity”.
The party noted that but for the confirmation of the arrest of the accused soldiers by the military authorities, the Commissioner of Information was already pitching the military against Deltans, describing the action of the government as purely political and hypocritical.
The APC added: “But for the responsive and prompt actions of the Nigerian Army, the Commissioner for Information was sowing seed of hatred among Deltans that perceived “political enemies were the ones trying to create confusion in Delta State”.
“In recent times, it is audible to the deaf and clear to the blind that Delta State Government plays politics with every constructive criticism, meant for the good/welfare of Deltans”, he said.
The APC which called the Okowa-led administration to tender an apology to Deltans also asked the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu to resign as mark of honor as obtains in all civilized parts of the world, stressing that Delta’s brand and profile must not be diminished in any form.
He said: “APC, Delta calls on the Government of Delta State to apologise to Deltans for the embarrassment and misguided statements used against Deltans and those whose interest is a better Delta State for the good of Deltans.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that Delta State Government goofed on this present issue of security threat to Deltans. Deltans deserve apologies. Because of the colossal embarrassment caused Deltans by the Commissioner for Information, most Deltans have lost confidence in him. They can no longer trust the Government, with information coming through him. We therefore call on him to resign from that exhorted position honourably. That is the right thing to do at this point.”
The party however called on “Deltans to continue to toe the line of peace. There is no better option to peace, if we must achieve Delta of our dream.”
A cross section of Deltans who spoke to our correspondent, noted that the State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu “lacks professionalism in dissemination of information. A Civil Society Organisation, CSO, the Justice, Fairness & Equity Group described the attitude of the Delta State government in the circumstance as untrustworthy, adding that Deltans are gradually losing confidence in the Okowa-led government.
Speaking with our correspondent on phone yesterday, the national coordinator of the group, Comrade Omaye Jeremiah, described the attitude of the government as unwholesome. “Yesterday you were telling Deltans that the video was not a true representation of the Nigeria army. “Here you are today commending their arrest. I think with your level on information awareness and the kind of initiative you have on information dissemination, Deltans are not safe.”
