Ebonyi Indigenes have dissociated themselves from the purported protest against Arise Television anchor, Rufai Oseni, over an altercation with the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.

Ebonyi indigenes in Diaspora made this known on Saturday in a statement made available to DAILY POST by Ambassador Pascal Oluchukwu.

This comes hours after some youths from Ebonyi State vowed to embark on a protest to demand an apology from Rufai following an argument with Dave Umahi during a live interview.

Reacting, Oluchukwu said the group that planned the protest against Rufai did not represent the broad voice of Ebonyi youths nor the spirit of the people of the state.

He urged genuine Ebonyi youths to rise above manipulation, focus on their future, and refuse to be used to attack journalists or institutions that stand for accountability and transparency.

“Their actions only reinforce the culture of sycophancy and intolerance that characterised Umahi’s uncommonly dictatorial eight years in office.”

“Transparency demands that no public official, past or present, should be seen to be above or beyond the reach of the law.”

He urged Arise News, the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and indeed the Nigerian public to ignore the antics of the self-serving group who seek to shield powerful figures from accountability.

“We call on Senator Umahi, now Minister of Works, to comport himself with the dignity his current office demands, to respond to public enquiries with facts and humility, and to desist from actions or utterances that further damage the image of Ebonyi State and its people.”