By DADA AYOKHAI
The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Sherrif Agbebaku has refuted claims made by some media outlets regarding the reasons behind his decision to defect from the PDP to the Edo APC by some section of the media.
In a statement from his office, which was also shared on social media, clarified that Rt. Hon. Agbebaku never stated that he defected to the APC to retain the benefits associated with his prestigious office.
The statement specifically called out the Daily Trust newspaper as a primary source of the misleading information concerning his defection, which was circulated in both print and on social media platforms.
The misleading newspaper report claimed that the Speaker’s reason for defecting to the APC was to enable him retain the perks and benefits associated with his office as the Speaker
However, in his rebuttal, the statement strongly criticized the Daily Trust for attempting to misrepresent the facts surrounding his defection.
The statement further emphasized that the Speaker’s decision to change parties was driven solely by his desire to promote the development of his homeland, the Owan West constituency.
The statement emphasised that the Daily Trust did not accurately report on the Speaker’s defection, asserting that at no point did the Speaker claim that his move from the PDP to the APC was motivated by personal gains or financial incentives.
It further noted that the Speaker, as a dedicated patriot, is committed to collaborating to achieve good governance.
It also highlighted that Gov Okpevbolo seems determined to transform Edo State, and therefore, all well-meaning citizens, including the Speaker, should support this initiative to elevate the state.
The Speaker pointed to recent approvals for the rehabilitation of schools and roads in Owan West as examples of impactful projects that warrant our backing.
He questioned why he, as the Speaker, should not support initiatives that directly benefit his constituents.
He reiterated his commitment to serving the public with integrity and regarded the spread of such misinformation as a distraction from his goals.
He called on the Daily Trust and other media outlets to promptly retract their inaccurate reports and to refrain from further dissemination of false information.
He also reminded the media of its sacred duty in upholding truth, accuracy, and professionalism in reporting news and events.
