In a swift reaction to apparent defamatory remarks against the member representing Mbaitoli state-constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, and Alumnus of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri,FUTO,Hon.(Engr) Innocent Ikpamezie by one Barr.Ekene Bob Ekechukwu, the Mbaitoli Lawmaker, has flayed the allegations, describing them as untrue and figments of the writer’s imagination.
A statement made available to newsmen by Hon.Ikpamezie’s Media Office, signed by the Lawmaker himself,noted that,in the said’Open Letter’ to Hon.Ikpamezie,Ekene Bob Ekechukwu,who described the Mbaitoli Lawmaker as his ‘friend and brother’ made unsubstantiable allegations and remarks against the Lawmaker and posted in several social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, among others.
According to the statement, Ekene Bob Ekechukwu was said to have allegedly alerted of the forthcoming election of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) FUTO Branch,and wrongfully accused the Mbaitoli Lawmaker of plotting to use security agencies to manipulate the said election, plotting to install a Chairman for SSANU,so as to have control over the Association, plotting to trigger crisis that would shatter peace and tranquility in the state which Gov.Hope Uzodimma laboured to sustain,as well as questioned Hon.Ikpamezie’s Interest in the SSANU FUTO Branch election.
The statement further noted that,as ridiculous as the allegations appeared,it wouldn’t be allowed to lie low,so as not to let the public go home with false impression about Hon.Innocent Ikpamezie, adding that Hon.Ikpamezie is a graduate of FUTO,a Senior Staff of the Institution, having worked there for eight years before venturing into national partisan politics, where he is presently contributing his quota to the development of the country as a state lawmaker.
The statement also informed that Hon.Ikpamezie is an Ambassador and Patron of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) FUTO chapter,who has received several merit awards to that effect, altogether as a Patron of the Students Union Government,SUG in FUTO with awards, and as an Alumnus of FUTO, the Mbaitoli Lawmaker is a progressive stakeholder in the Institution,as well as stakeholder and Alumnus of SSANU.
It regretted that Ekene Bob Ekechukwu’s undated mischievous’Open Letter’ was set to malign the good character of the Lawmaker,misrepresent the relationship between him and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, without explaining in detail such connection, even as a critical look at his unfounded allegations against the Mbaitoli Lawmaker will further expose the frustration and desperation of those plotting fruitlessly to hijack SSANU FUTO Branch, hence,they have no other means of livilihood.
