By Felix Ekwu
Recent media attack against the immediate past Commissioner for Environment in Delta State, Pastor Chris Onogba over an alleged sexual assault by a lady in Asaba, the state capital, when the matter is already in court has been described as not only sub judice but politically motivated to smear his hard earned reputation by his detractors.
Comrade Ovie Bethel, a political observer in the state while speaking on the matter said sensational headlines by some social media handlers on the issue were aimed at blackmailing Pastor Onogba.
Bethel in a statement electronically sent to NewsNet Nigeria expressed optimism that the outcome of the case which was said to have been instituted at the High Court 3, Asaba, will vindicate Pastor Onogba, who has an unblemished track record.
He, therefore, urged members of the public to disregard the misrepresentation of the facts of the matter and the hasty conclusion without waiting for the court verdict in order to tarnish the image of Pastor Onogba.
Comrade Bethel wrote below:
I read with utmost dismayed the level of hate and conspiracy going on on social media against a man who has served and still serving the state in his best capacity, Chief Hon. Chris Onogba.
The enemies who could not stop his rising in the political arena are now using social media to crucify him on an alleged matter that is already in the court.
Chief Chris Onogba has every moral right not to speak on this matter since the matter is already in court. The court is the hope of the common man and his innocence in the alleged sex assault which enemies are busy sharing on social media will be established in due time.
I have come to realise that if they can’t get at you, they use social media to sell lies just to rubbish your personality.
Chief Chris Onogba is a product of grace and a moving train in the political arena which God alone knows his destination.
Whatever perception those who are afraid of his personality or popularity are holding against him, remains an opinion not a reflection of his true identity as a man.
I am confident that the enemies will be put to shame at the end of the day.
What makes the whole sensational heading too childish is the capturing “Onogba is charge for Sexual Assault” without telling the actual story of what happened. Since Social media are using Sexual Assault just to get attention. Why are the same social media boys not telling everyone the story of how he assaulted the said lady they are using to tarnish the good reputation of Chief Chris Onogba?
Logically, the headline or one caption (title) should go with the storyline but in the case of Hon. Onogba, they kept “window dressing” the heading to suit their villainous agenda, forgetting that the general public is not gullible that can easily be carried away with a sensational heading without details of what truly transpired.
As an adult, one can have a court case whether a politician or not. It’s not a crime to have a case in court or faced an allegation. What matters should be the outcome of the case before we can actually arrive at the conclusion.
The general public should stop patronising those enemies who are good on social media to sell lies to the gullible just to trend.
All I can sense from the social media callous attack is a sensational headline that is politically motivated to tarnish the good image of Chief Chris Onogba, who is a rising star in the political arena.
