The ills that characterised the campaign in 2015 and 2019, which include rumours, lack of issue-based campaigns and misinformation, are rearing their ugly heads again.
In a statement signed by the group convener Mr Chidozie Obodozie which read; Shockingly, this time it is coming from the stables of a 2 time former Minister for Information in the person of Mr Frank Nweke Jnr who until he chickened out of the PDP primaries in Enugu state and defected to APGA in the state was a staunch member of the ruling party in the state.
It reeks of sheer cowardice and deception using the art of disinformation and playing to the gallery as Mr Frank Nweke Jnr has been running campaigns of calumny against the sitting governor Rt.Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the PDP.
For instance, take the last video Mr Nweke Jnr posted on his Micro-blogging application handle (Twitter) where he tried to whip up sentiments over the demolition of the famous Kenyatta Market. Mr Frank Nweke Jnr, the APGA guber candidate tried to paint a picture that the Governor was inflicting pain on the market people whereas Mr Nweke Jnr also failed to inform the public he intends to misinform that a new market has been built for the traders and those who sell building materials and timber have already been allocated shops and have moved to the new permanent site. Mr Nweke Jnr also failed to inform the public that over the long years of Enugu state, residents of that area have suffered traffic congestion and the decongestion of that area through the relocation of the market would make life easier for both residents and road users who use that route to get to their various abodes in record time.
We as a group of Concerned Enugu residents want to use this opportunity to admonish and also advise Mr Frank Nweke Jnr to focus on issue-based campaigns and tell the people of Enugu who he hopes to get their votes on election day what and how he intends to build on what the incumbent governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has done so far I the past 7 years.
Whilst we understand that while targeting the electorates, campaign propaganda only intends to exert its influence with emotive effects and not through reasons by exaggerating the candidates’ qualities and concealing their defects, just like it would happen with products, Mr Nweke Jnr should also note that it also casts a reflection to his past deeds as Minister of Information in previous administrations he served and also his tenure as Secretary to State Government.
As the saying goes; “whilst you are pointing one finger at someone, the rest are pointing back at you”.
Mr Frank Nweke Jnr is yet to tell the people of Enugu or even the traders he visited at the demolition site for relocation to a permanent site of the market how he intends to ease their burden. But instead chose to ask his hired supporters to make wild claims against the government. If he, Mr Nweke Jnr or any of his supporters have evidence to sleaze to the relocation and allocation of shops/stalls to the traders, the office of the Governor is always open to receive such complaints and attend to it immediately.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is a man who has the thoughts and concerns of his people at heart and will not leave any stone unturned nor will he turn a blind eye wherever he sees injustice being meted out on any Enugu citizen or resident.
When we take Enugu state as a case study, all of us are in one way or the other related. It’s therefore needless to engage in a campaign of calumny or the spread of fake news. Elections will come and go, but Enugu state will remain and a governor will emerge.
- 9News Nigeria
