National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has revealed President Muhammadu Buhari plans to set him up in two ways.The first of such plots, according to Metuh, is to link him with the protests and agitation by some groups in the South-eastern part of Nigeria for the Republic of Biafra.
The second, Metuh said, is to link him with the current arms scandal for which former National Security Addviser, Sambo Dasuki, media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, and other top members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are being
In one of the statements from his office, and signed by Richard Ihediwa, his Special Assistant, Metuh wrote: “our attention has been drawn to a fabricated report in the Monday December 14, 2015 edition of the Daily Trust suggesting that the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh warned pro-Biafra agitators to desist from disturbing the peace of the South-east zone.
“This report is completely false as the National Publicity Secretary never made such a comment at the PDP South East Executive meeting in Enugu on Sunday or any other fora for that matter.
“For the avoidance of doubt what Chief Metuh said on the agitation was that Nigerians have the right to demonstrate as long as they do so peacefully and within the ambits of the law. He deplored the actions of some security operatives who reportedly went beyond their brief to attack unarmed protesters and admonished that instead of engaging in show of power on the protesters, such security agents should rather demonstrate their bravery by joining others in fighting insurgents in the Sambisa forest.
“We are therefore shocked by the distorted report that appeared in the Daily Trust, which in no way whatsoever reflected the opinion of the National Publicity Secretary.
“We are persuaded that this fabricated report may not be unconnected with the schemes by the present administration to set-up and frame the National Publicity Secretary for his outspokenness in highlighting its negatives, for which he has been receiving threats, litigations, blackmails and unfounded allegations from government officials.
“But for our conviction that Daily Trust is a credible and highly reputable newspaper, we would have had no other option than to believe that it has lent itself to the orchestrated campaign to silence the National Publicity Secretary.
“While we restate the fact that the National Publicity Secretary will in no way be cowed to silence, we urge the media to always cross-check their facts before going to press.”
In a follow-up press conference, Metuh said: “in the last seven months, as opposition spokesperson, I have been hounded, harassed, intimidated and threatened severally. In order to avoid personal and family pressure, I had refrained from bringing them to the public domain.
“However, on account of recent information available to me, I now have cause to believe that the Federal Government is desperate and may have finalised plans to silence me.
“Nevertheless, I make bold to state the following:
“As someone who has been a private person, having not taken any public office, the choice of where, how and when to invest and conduct my personal business remains my prerogative.
“In this regard, I note that I never had any contract dealings with the immediate past Federal Government or any of its security apparatus.
“In the course of my duties as the National Publicity Secretary of our party, the then leader of our party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria invited me and directed that I carry out some assignment relating to my office and which he duly funded.
“It is important to note that the former President was fully satisfied with the way and manner I handled the assignment.
“Finally, I reiterate that the present government should not use the apparatus of state power to settle personal scores.”
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