ABIA GANG RAPE INCIDENT: WHY ABIKE DABIRI SHOULD APOLOGISE TO ABIANS

Abike Dabiri before membership of the National Assembly had risen to fame first as Presenter of NTA Network Programme NEWSLINE. She is therefore by every stroke of the imagination, a professional Journalist who is schooled in the rudiments of verifying facts before they are reported. This is because, news is not an event but an accurate and unbiased account of an event.

Abike refused to apply this common principle of journalism when she took the floor of the National Assembly in September 2011 to condemn Abia State Government for breeding Gang of Rapists at the Abia State University. Abike cajoled, insulted and made mockery of Abia State Government and indeed Abians. She based her condemnation on a video that was making the rounds showing a hardly clear image of about five boys raping an unidentified female student.

Only recently, the Nigeria Police through their official organ The Dawn March 11 – 24 edition revealed that they have arrested the gang believed to have perpetrated that dastardly act. They were arrested in Obite Town in Eche Local Government Area Rivers State same place investigations revealed the crime was committed. Interestingly too, the students are not Abia State University Students and the rape victim was a known family friend whose family were in land feud with the boys who masterminded the rape. So, Abia State University and indeed Abians is nowhere in the picture. By implication, Abians did not deserve being taken to the cleaners over unconfirmed reports.

The question is: Who sold the dummy that Abia State University and Abia State Government had a take in the incident? Who told SUN NEWSPAPERS that the rapists were from Abia State University because when you see that video over and over again, no mention was made of Abia State University? Why would anybody refer to that malicious statement and still make comments on them?

What Abike did tantamounts to malicious libel. She needs to apologise to Abians for ridiculing them before right thinking members of the public.

By the way Abike quoted SUN NEWSPAPER (aka rumor newspaper) profusely.There are also too many Abikes out there who swoop on every incident to cast aspersions on Abia Government and Abians. They are the enemies of progress, those who see no good, hear no good and talk no good. Resist the temptation of being an Abike Dabiri. Always cross check your facts before you rely on them for further comments