Disregard Concotted Pictures As Aladja Is Not Holding Any Festival, Says Community.

By Henry Ubus

First Vice President of Aladja Community, Comrade Benjamin Ogbe has frowned at insinuations trending on social media over a purported juju festival in honor of a particular deity in the community, urging members of the public to disregard the pictures being circulated by certain political tendencies, describing same as handwork of fifth columnists who are desperately seeking for avenue to discredit the reputation of the Udu Council boss, Chief Onajite Brown.

In a statement signed on behalf of the community and made available to newsmen,   Comrade Ogbe expressed displeasure with elements within and outside Aladja community, whom, he said, are always seeking for avenue to bring the Council boss, to disrepute.

Hear him: "Our attention has been drawn to reports on social media suggesting that a festival in honour of a deity held on Monday April 6, 2020 in Aladja community allegedly with the full approval and participation of the Local Government Council Chairman,  Chief Jite Brown, JP who coincidentally is from Aladja Community.

"It is trite to state  that Chief Brown, a highly respected son of the soil is the Chairman of the COVID-19 evaluation, monitoring and enforcement Committee for Udu Local Government Area of Delta state and wouldn't do anything to undermine the State Government efforts at combating the Coronavirus pandemic.

"We are particularly worried that some persons could bring the name of our son and Council Boss into a matter of this nature when he is preoccupied with the current global health crisis for which he has been saddled with some enormous responsibilities in the local government area. We are pleased to announce to those who cares to listen that No festival is taking place in Aladja Community.  The whole state is in a lockdown and all social and religious activities of any kind have been suspended in this period when the stay at home order of the state government is in place. Aladja is not exempted from the lockdown and even if some persons gathered for any reason in contravention of the order,  the Udu Council Boss couldn't have authorised same.

"We as a community have decided to clear the air on this matter trending on social media with some old pictures of public gathering flying recklessly to create the picture of a recent event.

"We use this medium to warn fifth columnists to desist from using the name of Aladja Community in their petty and malicious tendencies.  Chief Jite Brown is law-abiding and too responsible to promote any gathering at this moment capable of compromising the steps taken so far by government to halt the spread of the virus in Delta state", Comrade Benjamin Ogbe added.