Francis Okiye, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, has refuted charges that he is a member of a cult, telling political opponents to stop slandering him.
Okiye, in a statement released to journalists in Benin on Friday, raised concern about a viral social media story reportedly sponsored by his political opponents against him ahead of the Edo 2024 governorship race.
The former Speaker of the Peoples Democratic Party claimed the video on YouTube and other social media accounts in which he was supposed to be a member of a cult group that sponsored homicides in the state was not only embarrassing but also a lie from the pit of hell.
The statement reads, “To say such a claim is embarrassing and lies from the pit of hell will be an understatement.
“The trending report is false, vicious and a malicious statement targeted at damaging my personality and my 2024 governorship ambition.
“I have occupied public office since 2003 as a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, and becoming a one- time majority Leader, later Deputy Chief of Staff, the Governor Liaison to the Edo State House of Assembly and then the Speaker. Throughout this period, I was never associated with any cult group. “Okiye said.
Okiye instructed individuals behind the defamatory publication to retract it within seven days or face legal penalties.