Cross River Govt Gives Jarvis 48 Hours To Apologize Over False Allegation
By Missang AKPET
The Cross River State Government has demanded a public apology and retraction from the factional governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Arthur Jarvis Archibong, over what it described as a false and malicious press release.
The controversy followed a report circulating on social media that the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South claimed he was instructed by Governor Bassey Otu not to receive the PDP factional candidate.
Speaking on the matter, the state commissioner for information Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham said he personally met with the Paramount Ruler to verify the claim, and the monarch denied it in its entirety.
Cobham while briefing journalist revealed that Jar vis had appologised to the Paramount ruler confirming that he saw Jarvis' apology on the phone of the paramount ruler, where Jarvis stated that he had directed that the said press release be pulled down.
"I had to go meet the paramount ruler and hear from him first-hand and he told me nothing like that happened. He said he saw that press release and drew the attention of Mr. Arthur Jarvis to that dangerous news".
"If that news was correct, there would be no need for apology and no need to say he instructed them to take it down. It is gentlemanly for any person who understands the importance of this to issue a retraction and an apology," he said.
He accused Jarvis and his media team of deliberately spinning the story to tarnish the image of Governor Otu to gain public sympathy.
"The integrity and personality of the Governor and this administration is being tainted by a foolish spin. It is an absolute insult to malign the name of His Excellency for an issue which is a figment of imagination," he added.
The government therefore issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Jarvis and his media group to retract the statement and publish an apology in two national dailies, or face legal action from the Attorney-General of the state.
