THE Raymond Dokpesi campaign organisation has condemned in strong terms accusations by an online medium, linking him with the deadly Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), saying it is “nothing but blatant concoction of falsehood.”
A statement signed by Alhaji Shehu Gabam for the organisation, stated that a publication by one Cynthia Whyte of the reformed NDA, naming High Chief Raymond Dokpesi as an active sponsor of the activities of the militant group published in an online medium, was “laced with the political intention of throwing a spanner in the works of our nationwide campaign tours/consultation with the delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
Part of the statement read: “We want to observe that ordinarily, a baseless accusation by a faceless identity is hardly worthy of a response. It is however unfortunate that the editors at the online medium allowed their platform to be used irresponsibly to disparage innocent citizens with malicious falsehood and conspiracy theories without interrogating their sources on the authenticity of information they disseminate.
“High Chief Dokpesi is a highly celebrated personality and people who know him will attest to the fact that he is not only a peace loving citizen, but one who is passionate about the unity, indivisibility and oneness of our nation. Regardless of the partisan political process in the country, now clearly infested with all manner of treachery, bitterness and unwholesome acts by opposing political actors, he has always and will always be an advocate of winning all political contests fair and square.
“While we do not hide the fact that we have political differences with the All Peoples Congress, APC and the Federal Government especially on its policies, High Chief Dokpesi is a firm advocate for advancing the cause of our democracy through a robust and vibrant opposition that will keep the government of the day on its toes.”
It further stated that “If Chief Dokpesi’s campaigns around all states of Nigeria to be elected national chairman of the PDP is creating nervousness and fear in any political quarters in the country, we expect such persons to address the issue squarely by campaigning harder than we have done or advancing superior reasons to ours on the issues at stake.
“High Chief Dokpesi calls on all Nigerians and delegates to the PDP National Convention to ignore and disregard the claims of this so called Cynthia Whyte, who for reasons best known to him/her, is bent on dragging Chief Dokpesi’s name into a matter he knows nothing about. It is a baseless, spurious and unfounded allegation that aims at creating distractions to the critical political issues that currently engage his full attention,” it read.