By Rogers Edor Ochela

Our attention has been drawn to the above publication, which appeared in your Edition of MAY 28, 2018, and we wish to state categorically that the aforementioned report is completely false and a wicked fabrication designed to impugn on the character of the National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr Dickson A. O. Akoh. In a nutshell, it is a manifestation of the typical yellow journalism that is gradually taking over the nation’s landscape.

Reading the entire report, any rational mind will know that it a comical display of yellow journalism and it is quite laughable. Just for the records, Dr Akoh is a young man who has distinguished himself creditably well in virtually all spheres of human endeavour, especially as it relates to youth empowerment.

At this juncture, it is appropriate that we dissect the report in its entirety with a view to responding to the bundle of lies contained therein. First and foremost, to prove that the report is a mumbo jumbo of falsehood, the writer, Mr. Austine Elemue wrote that Dr Akoh is ‘’currently undergoing a Master Degree programme in Sociology under the Faculty of Social Sciences…..’’. Nothing can be further from the truth!

To set the records straight, Dr Akoh’s Master Degree is in Criminology and not Sociology as mischievously reported by the writer. And it is equally important to orchestrate here that he finished the programme in October 2017 and is to defend his project on 5th June 2018. If not mischievousness, how does one explain the rationale behind this report that is just coming out seven months after Akoh had finished his Master Degree course work and issued a Statement of Result?

The author of the aforementioned story, who is obviously on an evil mission to unnecessarily cast aspersion on Dr Akoh’s hard earned image and reputation, made glib references to Akoh’s classmates, ostensibly impersonators that are all out to ensure that Akoh is run out of town through sheer peddling of falsehood. The question to ask is: who are the so-called course mates of Akoh that the writer claimed to have talked to? No doubt, the voice is that of Jacob, but the hand is obviously that of Esau (read enemies of Dr Akoh).

The decision of your medium to give the report undeserved prominence on the front page in spite of the shallowness of the story is a clear indication of your avowed determination to please your paymasters. To us, this is part of the larger agenda of the enemies of Peace Corps of Nigeria, a stiff opposition which started mounting right from the time the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill was introduced on the floor of the National Assembly up to the withholding of Presidential Assent.

Moreover, as it is the norm, when a student is caught cheating during examination, a form will be given to him/her to fill indicating the nature of the malpractice. So, was the reporter availed of such form in the case of Dr Akoh? Or did he sight it? And what is the nature of Akoh’s supposed examination malpractice? These are posers for the author of this offensive report to answer. Another germane question is: which institution worth its name will go ahead to issue a Statement of Result to a student who has case of examination hanging on his neck like a sword of Damocles?

It would be recalled that when Dr Akoh was writing his examination and his case came up before Honourable Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, he sought the permission of the Court to allow him write the examination, which was supported by his Examination Timetable, a lawful move that was stridently opposed by the Police. And to the consternation of his traducers, the learned Judge granted Dr Akoh’s request, an action that did not go down well with his enemies. Who knows whether this report is not a product of the simmering angst of these enemies who have been waiting for an opportunity to get a pound of flesh from Akoh. The temptation to believe this conclusion is too strong to be ignored.

Over the years, our National Commandant, Dr. Dickson A. O. Akoh, has proven to the whole world that he is a man on integrity, who cherishes and guards his reputation jealously. That explains why in spite of all the machinations of the enemies coated in unsubstantiated allegations, he has always trounced his opponents in the Courts.

For the benefit of our dear readers, including Mr. Elemue, one of the fundamental reasons that informed Dr Akoh’s resolve to establish Peace Corps of Nigeria is the determination to curb all forms of social vices, examination malpractices in the nation’s educational institutions. So, it will amount to playing double standard for him to engage in such crime.

We want to assure all Nigerians that no amount of intimidation encapsulated in negative media propaganda will derail our National Commandant from his redemptive mission of empowering millions of Nigerian youths and giving them a sense of belonging. It is a task that he has set for himself over the years, which he has been vigorously pursuing without looking back. Those who don’t like his guts can as well go and kiss electricity Transformer. Period!!!

(Ochela is a Media Consultant to Peace Corps of Nigeria).

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