Delta State Government, today, counseled Labour Party (LP) stalwart, Prof. Pat Utomi against what it describes as deliberate lies to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, while addressing the press, said that Utomi’s desperation to pass across falsehood was painted to give the impression that the opposition was being oppressed in the state.
He said that the antics of Utomi were aimed at gaining unmerited sympathy with his status of being a national figure, saying that the attitude was beneath the professor and not right for the political atmosphere in Nigeria.
Aniagwu stressed that there was no record of the Labour Party requesting for the venue, reiterating that he only received a call from one Comrade Kelly Ajufo on Sunday (January 8) pleading for the use of the Arcade for his party’s rally billed for the next day Monday, January 9.
He said that even though the request was untidy, the Arcade was made available for the LP rally and the state government ensured that no money was paid for it as customary.
The commissioner said that the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led government believed in equity and free space for all to participate in political activities but would not tolerate blackmail.
He challenged Utomi to produce any letter to the state government, saying that any genuine request passed through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and not through phone calls or blackmail.
On his part, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Delta State, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, revealed that the state government granted the request by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use the Warri City Stadium.
He said that the accusation by Prof Pat Utomi was unfounded, saying that the professor was alien to Delta State and was seeking means to be relevant.
