Samuel Anyanwu, national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said he never granted a media interview where he purportedly said he has distanced himself from Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Governor.
Anyanwu described the report as “false, malicious and an extreme act of mischief by desperate power seekers who seek to pitch him against the Governor and cause disaffection in the PDP”
In a statement signed by Ikenna Onuoha, his media aide, the PDP National scribe stated he “did not grant any interview, chat or hold interaction whatsoever at Cathedral of Transfiguration Of Our Lord, CATOL, Owerri, before, during or after the celebration of the 80th birthday celebration of foremost nationalist, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, thus could not have made any statement on Governor Wike as purported by the said report”
“It is therefore shocking that the writer of the fabricated report went to the extent of concocting fictitious quotations and ascribed same to Senator Anyanwu just to give his libelous story a semblance of fact.
“For emphasis, Senator Anyanwu is a highly cultured leader and had never made any undesirable comment on anybody let alone Governor Wike, a highly respected leader and critical stakeholder in the PDP.
“Senator Anyanwu, as the National Secretary cannot, has not and will never distance himself from any leader in the Party, let alone Governor Wike, who remains a prominent leader of our party who has made immense sacrifice for the sustenance of the Party.
“In any event, our investigation has revealed where this reprehensible report emanated from. Information at our disposal showed that the writer, Chuks Egemba was an appointee of the ill-fated seven month’s administration in Imo state.
“We are also aware of how huge sums of money have been released to hack writers to tarnish Sen. Anyanwu’s image and bring him to disrepute in the eyes of the public and among his political associates.
“Such individuals are fighting a lost battle as they cannot diminish Sen. Anyanwu’s soaring popularity in Imo State by means of lies, fabrication and fake news.
“The National Secretary has already instructed his lawyers to commence necessary action with security agencies for redress over this libelous report in line with our extant laws including those against dissemination of fake news” the statement stated.