Civil Rights Advocacy Group: Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the prolonged social media campaigns of disinformation against the person and character of the Senator representing Delta North at the National Assembly, Prince Ned Nwoko by yet to be discovered malicious person(s).
HURIWA said it backs the determined decision of the Senator, Prince Ned Nwoko to take immediate action to file a legal process and also approach the security services like the Nigeria Police Force or the Department of State Services (DSS) to uncover the individual or group of misguided individuals responsible for planting totally false, misguided, wicked and malicious social media contents aimed at tarnishing the image of Senator Ned Nwoko or to spread the falsehood that he is dead which is absolutely wicked, despicable, reprehensible and abominable.
HURIWA through a media statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said that although it is totally against the sinister plots by certain corrupt individuals in government and at the National Assembly to muzzle the constitutional freedoms of information by making subterranean moves to over- regulate the use of the social media in Nigeria, but it says that fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution give no room for disinformation which is a massive cyber crime that must be boldly and extensively combated by the relevant authority.
“The deliberate planting of falsehoods and malicious contents against any individual only because those doing the crime of disinformation are blackmailers attempting to rubbish the hard-earned public image of that individual, is almost close enough to been called terrorism because when the reputation of an individual is unduly rubbished, it is not different from physically killing that individual”.
“What is life without good reputation? So, we in HURIWA are not in support of misinformation, disinformation, fake news and we will in the coming months be introducing a unique initiative to contribute to the global conversations on how best to combat the spread of disinformation and fake news. Fake news, disinformation is terrorism.”
HURIWA recalled that Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) had at the weekend, dismissed reports claiming that he died in Switzerland.
Nwoko representing Delta North Senatorial District in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said that the reports were entirely false and malicious.
His words: ”In recent weeks, I have also been subjected to unwarranted insults and accusations regarding the purchase of a car for a little content creator.
“These claims are baseless and misleading. Whether this is a misguided joke or a deliberate act of malice, it has gone too far and will not be tolerated.
“I am taking immediate legal action against those spreading these falsehoods. Arrests will be made, and anyone involved should be prepared to face the consequences.
“This is not a matter of influence; it is about holding those responsible accountable for their harmful actions.”
Nwoko warned “I will not tolerate any attempts to malign my character or to downplay the seriousness of this situation.
“If you are involved in these activities, expect to face legal repercussions without delay,” Senator Nwoko concluded.
HURIWA said it has given her total support to Senator Ned Nwoko and for the law enforcement agencies to take immediate steps to investigate the increasing spate of disinformation around the person of Senator Ned Nwoko, arrest the culprits and charge them to court in accordance with the rule of law.
*Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko
National Coordinator,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA). August 11th, 2024.