Deputy Speaker of Benue State Assembly, Lami Danladi Ogenyi has advised youths in the state, particularly, her constituency, Ado State Constituency to stop availing themselves as tools for politicians to be used for their selfish interests.
The deputy speaker gave the advice on the heels of the alleged assassination attempt on the lawmaker representing the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency, Phillip Agbese.
A report of the assassination attempt on Agbese had trended on social media on Thursday with pictures of some youths arrested by the military.
One of the political leaders in the area, Ochai Onazi had reported that some hoodlums invaded Igumale public square where Agbese was meeting with stakeholders and disrupted the occasion.
Efforts to get the military in the state to react to the alleged arrest of the youths were not successful.
The force commander of Operations Whirl Stroke, Sunday Igbinomwanhia said he had been posted out of the state and advised newsmen Benue to call the OPWS emergency numbers.
And there was no response when the emergency number was called.
Meanwhile, putting the record straight, the deputy speaker in a statement issued on Saturday by her Press Secretary, Agbaji Samuel Atsonwu said, “there was no evidence to suggest that those boys have been paraded by the Nigerian military are assassins.
“We have never heard of instances where unarmed, innocent-looking young men would carry out an assassination attempt on the life of a well-guarded HoR member.
“This is irrational and a failed attempt to downplay the intelligence of the public.
Ogenyi described as the ‘stock in trade’ of the federal lawmaker to drag notable public office holders into a game of cheap blackmail and media propaganda.
The deputy speaker recalled how Agbese dragged the governor of the state, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia to social media war when he pulled down the governor’s portrait hung in his office at the green chamber.
The deputy speaker however advised, saying, “We strongly call on the unsuspecting public to distance themselves from the sham purported to be an assassination attempt by Agbese and his camp, we advise the youths to also stop availing themselves to be used as tools for Agbese’s trade of blackmail.
“Those fanning the embers of war should know that war does no one good. The earlier they realise that development is far better than undue public unrest, narcissism, blackmail and propaganda, the better it will be for society.”
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