HURIWA has publicly criticized the social media smear campaign directed at Senator Ned Nwoko, urging responsible online behavior.
The continuing social media campaign against Senator Ned Nwoko, who serves as Delta North’s representative in the National Assembly, has been strongly criticized by HURIWA – a well-known civil rights advocacy group.
The group condemned unidentified individuals with malicious intent for perpetuating the spread of misinformation and disinformation about the senator over an extended period.
HURIWA, through its National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, has expressed steadfast support for Senator Nwoko’s choice to pursue legal action and engage security agencies like the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Services (DSS) in identifying and holding accountable those who disseminated false information causing harm.
The group labeled the spreading of these unfounded allegations, which included a false rumor about the death of the senator, as abhorrent and a serious attack on his reputation.
HURIWA highlighted its opposition to the suppression of freedom of information by corrupt government officials or members of the National Assembly through excessive regulation on social media. However, it also denounced any dissemination of false information (disinformation).
The organization emphasized that although individuals have the protected right to free speech according to the constitution, spreading intentional falsehoods is considered a severe cybercrime and should be handled by appropriate authorities.
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According to Onwubiko, deliberately spreading untrue and harmful information in order to ruin someone’s reputation is comparable to an act of terrorism. He believes that tarnishing a person’s good standing can be just as detrimental as causing them physical harm since one’s public image is often the foundation for their success. As such, HURIWA objects strongly to any propagation of false news or misleading data. In the months ahead, they plan on launching an exclusive project aimed at joining forces with others battling against these dangerous practices worldwide.
A recent incident was cited by HURIWA wherein Senator Nwoko denied false reports claiming his demise in Switzerland.
These reports have been rejected as completely invented and harmful by the senator, who issued a statement in Abuja.
He dismissed other groundless allegations about buying a car for an emerging content creator, categorizing them as spurious and deceptive.
Senator Nwoko has declared that he will promptly initiate a legal process against those accountable for disseminating false information, cautioning that they would be apprehended and held liable for their conduct. He noted that this is not an issue of power or authority but rather of ensuring culpability for damaging behavior.
HURIWA expressed its complete backing for Senator Nwoko and called on law enforcement authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the rising disinformation drive targeting him. The organization also urged them to arrest those responsible and enforce justice in conformity with legal principles.
