PRESS RELEASE:
THE MALICIOUS RUMOUR ASSOCIATING DISTINGUISHED SENATOR BARINADA MPIGI WITH THE CORONA VIRUS INDEX CASE IN RIVERS STATE.
The attention of Distinguished Senator Barry Mpigi has been drawn to malicious rumours making the rounds in the social media about a Senator from Rivers State in respect of a nineteen year old girl who tested positive to the Corona Virus disease in Rivers State which has led to a lot of speculation among the people of state and the general public.
We therefore wish to state categorically that Distinguished Senator Barinada Mpigi did not have any itinerary that took him to Greece, Italy and France in the last three months neither did he travel with any such girl mentioned in the social media.
For the avoidance of any doubts, let us assure the good people of Rivers South-East Senatorial District and indeed all Rivers State that Distinguished Senator Barinada Mpigi is safe, sound and in good health. He is not acquainted to the girl that’s the COVID-19 index case in Rivers State in any way whatsoever nor is he associated with her at all.
We wish to reiterate that Distinguished Senator Barinada Mpigi is a very mature and law abiding individual who will not treat issues of public health with levity nor will he take serious issues relating to a deadly disease such as Corona virus for granted.
This evil rumour is therefore a calculated attempt by mischief makers and political opponents to embarrass Distinguished Senator Mpigi so as to score cheap political points.
It is regrettable that while well meaning citizens of the State are involved in concerted efforts towards combating the deadly pandemic, some misguided individuals will chose to play politics with such a serious issue of public health which is a major concern to the people of the State.
We wish to reassure the people of the State especially, the people of Rivers South-East Senatorial District that no amount of blackmail will deter Distinguished Senator Barinada Mpigi from continuing to provide meaningful representation and contributions to the peace and wellbeing of the people of the area.
We hereby call on relevant authorities to investigate the source of the malicious rumour and get the necessary information from the index case said to be in an Isolation centre in the State so as to curtail the prevalence of cases of fake news in our cyber space.
Thank you.
Joe Gwezia
Legislative/Media Aide to Senator Barinada Mpigi
28/03/2020.
