JOURNALIST DENIES AUTHORSHIP OF STORY DISPARAGING EDEOGA’S PETITION: SAYS IT IS  FAKE

A journalist, Jonathan Eze has disclaimed a story currently making the rounds on the online media, purporting that Chijioke Edeoga’s petition at the Enugu Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal was “hopeless and weak.”

The story, with headline, “Edeoga’s Petition Against Me Hopeless, Throw it Out, Gov Mba urges Tribunal,” and which has the name, Jonathan Eze as the author, was spotted as it was being spiritedly distributed around Enugu political WhatsApp groups by one Ugo Nwanjoku, one of the media aides propagating Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State.

In a swift press statement which he personally signed, Eze, who is a practicing journalist living in Abuja, denied ever writing the article, saying that he has never been a supporter of Mbah, and believed that did not even win the election.

His statement reads:

Dear All

Re: Edeoga’s Petition Against Me Hopeless, Throw it Out, Gov Mba urges Tribunal

My attention has been drawn to a story being spread on WhatsApp and other social media handles by the media team of the embattled Governor of Enugu State, with the headline: “Edeoga’s petition against me hopeless, throw it out, Gov Mba urges tribunal”, with my by-line.

My name is Jonathan Eze, a Journalist, Editor, Publisher and a Media Consultant with over 15 years’ experience across a number of Nigerian national dailies, including Nigerian Compass Newspaper, Daily Times, THISDAY, National Economy and Leadership Newspaper Group, where I served as Chief Operating Officer.

I wish to state unequivocally that I am not the author of the story in question, and at no time was I contacted by anyone for the use of my name, which in itself is against the ethics of my profession.

As a firm believer in justice and democratic tenets, I did not and will not support the INEC-fabricated and indefensible results that gave victory to Mr. Mbah. My good people of Obukpa and Nsukka massively voted for Jonathan Chijioke Edeoga and we stand by his mandate.

No matter the propaganda and distortions they are embarking on to rob Ndi Enugu of their victory, the truth must prevail, justice will.be served and Edeoga would be sworn in as the Governor of the state.

Once again, I distance myself from the viral story which is not even gaining any traction as people have seen through it as a figment of the imagination of the writers.

E-signed

Jonathan Eze

This will be the second time in three days that press statements and articles published by Governor Mbah’s media assistants are repudiated by the people they fraudulently pass off as the writers.

On August 13, 2023, one Chimezie Ashuke, a businessman and public commentator based in Enugu also issued a disclaimer on an article purportedly written by him, and which was falsely undermining the integrity of a Labour Leader in the state.

It is not clear why the PDP in Enugu, particularly Governor Mbah’s media aides, have been using other people’s identities to publish their articles. What has been noted is that nearly all of them use fake names in futile attempts to disconnect themselves from the falsehood they circulate.

Reuben Onyishi, Uche Anichukwu, Joshua Ejeh and Ugo Nwanjoku, are members of the team notorious for using different fake names to publish articles against perceived political opponents.

Onyishi has more than five fake names, some of which include, Eze Nwamadi Igwenunu, Ogbons Asadu, Ugochata Beru, Felicia Ezema and Frank Mba. Uche Anichukwu, on his part, has a number of aliases, the latest of which is Dr Nicholas Odo.