The government of Imo State has debunked reports that it has planned to force Fulani settlers into marriage with ladies in the state.
In the report sighted by with the headline, ‘Shocking: Uzodinma declares free marriage between Fulani Settlers and Imo Ladies; Promises to pay bride price for herdsmen who choose to marry Imo Ladies, Imposes 1million naira fine on those who refuse to give consent’, it said the government had decided to force the settlers into marriage with ladies from the state.
The state government however described the report as a misleading and fabricated story aimed at inciting discord between Ndigbo and the nation.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, the report was an old fabricated newspaper article, which falsely claimed that Governor Hope Uzodimma had vowed to arrange marriages between Imo women and Fulani settlers.
Emelumba revealed that the resurgence of the false news narrative could be linked to the same group that previously raised a misleading alarm regarding the establishment of an IDP camp in Nsu, located in the Ehime Mbano local government area of Imo State.
He identified the sponsors as individuals who suffered a significant defeat in the recent local government elections and are now seeking methods to instigate instability within the state.
According to him, Uzodimma does not even have the power to compel any lady outside his biological children to marry anyone.
He said: “Honestly, I believe Imo people are too cosmopolitan to believe such a balderdash from empty brains whose quest for power has led them to all sorts of mischief and desperation.”
The commissioner called on the people of Imo State to disregard any information that is intended to tarnish the image of government officials or incite them against other Nigerians.
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