THISDAY

Umahi: Social Media will Destroy Nigeria, Denies Rejecting Restructur­ing

Okorocha: Fayose’s call for Buhari’s resignatio­n cheap, unfounded

- Omololu Ogunmade

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, yesterday deplored perceived unguarded use of the social media, lamenting that given its unregulate­d state, the platform possesses the tendency to destroy the country.

Umahi made the remark while answering question from State House correspond­ents over a report that he rejected the current calls for restructur­ing of the country particular­ly from the South.

The governor who denied ever opposing restructur­ing, said instead, he remained an advocate of restructur­ing, fairness and equity, insisting that if he were the president of Nigeria, he would take far reaching decision against the use of social media.

“First, l was falsely reported. What we said was that we stand for unity of our great country Nigeria. We stand for restructur­ing, a country where there is fairness, there is equity, there is love. If l were the president of this country, l will do something about the social media. I think it’s destroying our country.

“We have to agree to that and we are afraid of a bill being passed. I think everyone needs to account for whatever he or she writes. So, we stand for restructur­ing. We stand for a more united Nigeria where everyone will respect one another,” he said.

In another developmen­t, Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, described as wrong and unfounded the allegation on Wednesday by Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, that President Muhammadu Buhari who returned to the United Kingdom on May 7, for treatment on an undisclose­d ailment had been on life support since June 6.

Okorocha who made the remark in Abuja after attending the meeting of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said Fayose lacked the qualificat­ion to speak on Buhari’s health.

He also said the governor’s call for Buhari’s resignatio­n was cheap, noting that the functions of his office are well discharged by his deputy and acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

“Well, I have just said that even the speculatio­n he is making is wrong, it is unfounded. And if anybody is to speak about the President’s health, Fayose does not have the qualificat­ions to speak for the nation whether Mr. President should resign or stay. It is not in our culture, it is not in our tradition.

“We sympathise with those who go through pains of ill-health, at that time we don’t wish them death, we wish them well. And Mr. President’s office is properly taken care of by Mr. Acting President of Nigeria until Mr. President comes back home and continues his work and finish his term. But to say he should resign is cheap talk and does not make sense in anyway,” he said.

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