Abia govt will no longer tolerate ‘destructive criticisms’ on social media – Official

The Abia State Government has warned people to desist from spreading “falsehood” against it on social media.

Anthony Agbazuere, the chief of staff to the governor, gave the warning on Monday while speaking with reporters at the Government House, Umuahia.

Mr Agbazuere said it was “disheartening to know that it had become a way of life for some persons to spread false messages to disparage the Abia State Government and its officials”.

He, however, said the government was open to accept “advice and objective criticisms” from the citizens.

Mr Agbazuere said henceforth, any form of “destructive criticism” would not be welcomed by the state government.

“In the spirit of the New Year, such people should be wary and refrain from unpatriotic, irreverent and debilitating conducts.

“Government shall be constrained to fully resort to extant laws against such uncharitable individuals except they purge themselves,” he said.

Continuing, the governor’s chief-of-staff said, “You can no longer in this country go to Facebook and write what you think or feel to disparage somebody without knowing that there are laws concerning such things in Nigeria.

“If you think what you are saying is right, then you must justify it on the basis of the law, or else the law will take its course.”