The Ebonyi State Government on Friday expressed displeasure over a viral video portraying Ebonyi people as criminals in Anambra State.
It described the video as a purported attempt to tarnish the corporate image of the state.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ebonyi State, Engineer Jude Chikadibia Okpor condemned the act when he received in audience the delegation of the State Chapter of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo in his office.
He said Ohaneze Ndi Igbo should not only rise up to the challenge of protecting the image of the Ebonyi people but also of Ndigbo in general.
Okpor who called on the Igbo Cultural Apex Organisation, Ohaneze to remain the leading umbrella of unity and progress in the zone, also affirmed that no Igbo man can attain the level of sainthood by tarnishing the image of his or her brother, but would summarily dent the collective image of the Igbo nation.
Read Also: Stop disrespecting Ondo people, PDP tells Akeredolu
Okpor enjoined the leadership of the group to use their influence in extending the content of their slogan, “ONYE AGHANA NWANNEYA” in propagating the unity and oneness of the people of the zone.
He described Ebonyi indigenes in all parts of the world as industrious, hardworking, and law-abiding people.
Okpo, who strongly condemned the criminal activities involving some Ebonyi people, however, maintained that the activities of a few hoodlums cannot be used to generalize Ebonyi people as criminals.
He decried the use of social media in trying suspects instead of following due process through a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Commissioner stressed that when the viral video gets out of the shores of Igbo land, it would not only tarnish the image of the Ebonyi people but the corporate image of Ndigbo at large.
He, therefore, charged the state chapter of Ohaneze to always strive to work in synergy with their members in other states to protect the corporate image of Igbo people across the globe.
The Commissioner further reassured of the government’s readiness to partner with the group to achieve the desired result.
The leader of the team and state president of the union, Dr. Peter Mbam, assured of the readiness of the union to partner with the present administration in the state to contribute their quota in the development of the state.
He pleaded with the Information Commissioner to assist in the media publicity of the activities of the union in the state.