By Igboeli Uche Patience
Mr. Ejike Ofoegbu, who runs the Facebook page Igbo Real Time Magazine, has publicly apologized to the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, and his family for repeatedly publishing false stories and allegations against them.
In a five-minute video posted on Facebook, Ofoegbu admitted that the stories he published about Governor Soludo and his son, Ozonna, were false and fabricated.
He said: “One of the false claims I made, for which I sincerely ask for forgiveness, was the statement that read: ‘I will arrest anyone who calls Ozonna my son. He is not my son. I disowned him years ago, and he is no longer a member of the Soludo family.’ This statement was false. Our current Governor, Charles Soludo, never made such a statement.
“The second false claim was where I wrote: ‘I don’t take advice from my father. He was a drunkard who beat my mother when I was young.’ This statement was also false. Ozonna never uttered those words while dancing; I simply fabricated the story.
“The third was when I claimed: ‘I ordered Uzo from Temu; his Chinese name is Robmanson.’ This statement was equally false and fabricated.
“I want Nigerians and everyone watching this video to know that I made these statements on my own because I wanted them to go viral. They were never true.
“The last false claim I made was the post that said: ‘BREAKING NEWS: They should organize a drinking competition between my father and Wike.’ That statement was also false. Ozonna never said that. I made it because viral content on Facebook attracts more advertising revenue. That was my reason for doing it. It was never my intention to hurt our able governor or his son, Ozonna. It was an act of ignorance.
“To all Nigerians watching this, I am truly sorry for my actions. I will do everything within my power to withdraw all the false accusations from social media.”
The apology comes after Ofoegbu admitted that the allegations he published against Governor Soludo and his family were entirely fabricated and made solely to attract attention and increase engagement on social media.
Uche Igboeli is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
