Yenagoa—The National Chairman of the Nigeria Youth Forum, (NYF), Frank Joshua has chided Sahara Reporters for attacking Ned Nwoko.
In a media briefing organized by the forum in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital over the weekend, Joshua said the publication about Nwoko is not only false but unreasonable.
It will be recalled that Sahara Reporters had published a report, alleging that Nwoko defrauded some African leaders and other influential personalities in the diaspora by claiming ownership and sale of ample properties.
According to reports by Track News, the NYF chairman stated that the publication has a political undertone with a motive to tarnish the image of the politician.
He opined that Nwoko, a trained lawyer, politician and philanthropist is a good man, who only wants the best for his people and constituency.
His words, “Sahara Reporters is a wide media that we all respected but I must state that we are disappointed that it wrote a spurious and stupid report against our dear brother and master who has been giving back in multitude to our youths, especially scholarship, entertainment and lots more,” Joshua stated.
“Haven conversed with ample persons who are more close to this man in question, Nwoko, I found out that the publication made by Sahara Reporters earlier is nothing but a fake account and I believe that it has an underlying political motive. They just wanted to use it to tarnish the good image of this indefatigable man.
“I will not read this Sahara Reporters again if they continue with this nonsense they’re saying about any high-placed person here and there. It is unfair! They should do their background research very well,” Peter Uche of Delta Branch of the forum commented.
“This my speech here should be a fact-check. I urge the media agents here on this august occasion to please tell and announce it to even the ears of the deaf that Honourable Ned Nwoko is not a ‘scammer’ or fraudster as claimed by Sahara Reporters.
“We don’t know who is behind this but we believe that God will fish them out.
The NYF chairman asked Sahara Reporters to retract the publication and tender an apology on different media platforms to the politician in a space of one week.
“As an Organised body we are giving Sahara Reporters a week to retrieve their statement and make a public apology through their platform and at least three National dailies preferably, Vanguard, Sun and The Nation.
“After the expiration of this one-week grace, we will surely challenge Sahara Reporters in court to tell the world how Hon. Nwoko is defrauding people as they claimed,” Joshua said.
On his part, Deji Ayoade, zonal director of the forum in Kwara State called on security agencies to investigate Sahara Reporters to ascertain who Nwoko defrauded.