By Nnanna Kalu (Abia State Correspondent in Umuahia)
The Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Mr Kazie Uko, refuted a trending media reports alleging that he issued a statement on behalf of the Abia State Government, asserting the autonomy of state governments to manage the police force.
In a disclaimer to the said news report on Saturday, February 24, 2024 which he said was brought to his notice, Uko described the Online report as utterly "false and misleading".
He enjoined The general public and relevant institutions to "disregard this falsehood as neither the Abia State Government nor the Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor had issued any statement purportedly calling for the autonomy of states to manage the police.
"However, I acknowledge speaking with a reporter, who had called me up on the phone during the week, asking for my reaction on a supposed passage of a bill on state police by the National Assembly. I had told him I did not have any reaction as I had not heard the news and therefore did not have the details of the said bill.
"However, I must acknowledge that I had interrogated some of the things he told me during our phone discussion, since I could hardly make sense out of them. How this now became a statement from me, beats my imagination.
"The Abia State Government had always made its position clear on any issue of importance to the public and if and when the need arises, the Government will make her stance clear on the issue of state police", Uko explained. NNL.