The Imo Democratic Alliance for Good Governance (IDA) has dismissed claims by Barr. Chinedu Agu that his invitation by the Nigeria Police over allegations of criminal libel was instigated by the Imo State Ministry of Information.
The group clarified that it authored the petition which led to the police invitation, stressing that the Ministry had no role whatsoever in the matter.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Umukoro Marvis Udechukwu, IDA described Agu’s attempt to link the Ministry to his ordeal as “self-serving and mischievous,” insisting that his offensive publication threatened peace and could have incited insurrection in the state.
The group maintained that it was prepared to defend its petition before the police or in court, urging Agu to stop chasing shadows and face the issues at hand.
IDA Full Statement
OUR attention has been drawn to a self serving and publicity seeking write up by Barr Chinedu Agu, where he imputed that the invitation extended to him by the Nigeria Police over allegations of criminal libel was written by the Imo State Ministry of Information.
Although the police in the letter to Barr Agu didn’t even mention the name of the petitioner ,talkless of the Information Ministry being complicit, let us make it abundantly clear,that the said petition was written by Imo Democratic Alliance For Good Governance(IDA).
IDA is a well-known human rights and civil society organisation committed to good governance in Imo State and orderly society. We not only speak out against any matter that threatens the peace of the state, but we also strive to ensure that the government and its officials are held accountable.
It was in that wise that we raised the petition upon which the police extended the invitation to Barr Agu. His offensive write-up not only threatened the peace of the state but was capable of leading to an insurrection and violent overthrow of the democratic government in Imo State.
It was, therefore, mischievous for Barr Agu to blame his self-inflicted woes on the Ministry of Information, which had no hand whatsoever in the petition.
It is even ironic that Barr Agu who accused the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba of defamation in reply to his own damaging claims, is now afraid of facing a mere police investigation, not even a criminal defamatory case in court .
If Barr Agu is sure of his facts and believes that he is innocent, why raise a false alarm over the invitation? Or could it be that the guilty is afraid? He should stop playing the victim to attract public sympathy, whereas he is the aggressor.
For the avoidance of the doubt, the IDA is the author of the petition upon which strength the police invited Barr Agu for investigation. The police invited us to back our petition with a statement, and we did.
We are neither a nebulous group . We are prepared to appear either before the court or the police to defend the petition we wrote.
Agu should stop chasing shadows. Those who live in glass houses should refrain from throwing stones.
Comrade Umukoro Marvis Udechukwu
Coordinator, Imo Democratic Alliance for Good Governance
