By Our Reporter
The Office of the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State has dismissed as false a viral report claiming that Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi sponsored a bill currently before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
In a disclaimer issued on Monday, the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Omen Bassey, described the report as fake news and urged members of the public to disregard it entirely.
According to the statement, the office of the Deputy Governor has been inundated with enquiries from concerned citizens seeking clarification about a bill allegedly credited to Senator Eyakenyi. Bassey stated categorically that the Deputy Governor has not sponsored any bill in the State House of Assembly or elsewhere and is not aware of the existence of the said bill.
“For the sake of innocent members of the public, let me state clearly that Her Excellency, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi, has not sponsored any bill in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly or anywhere else currently,” the statement read. “She is not even aware of the existence of the purported bill being circulated on social media.”
The statement further explained that as a member of the State Executive Council, the Deputy Governor does not have the authority to personally sponsor bills. Any executive bill, it noted, must first be deliberated upon by the Executive Council and transmitted to the legislature by the Governor or his designated agent in line with due process.
Bassey also pointed out that the controversial report did not originate from any official communication channel of either the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly or the Akwa Ibom State Government, describing the source as spurious and misleading.
He urged the public to rely on verified and official channels when seeking information, especially on sensitive or controversial matters. “Members of the public are hereby enjoined to discountenance the fake news in its entirety and cultivate the habit of verifying reports through official sources before attaching any weight to them,” the statement added.
The disclaimer comes amid heightened public interest and widespread social media discussions surrounding the alleged bill, which has generated confusion and speculation across the state.
The Office of the Deputy Governor reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accurate information dissemination, warning against the dangers of misinformation and its potential to mislead the public and undermine public trust.
