Gov Diri To Go After Those Spreading Unverified Sex Story

The Governor of Bayelsa state Duoye Diri plans to protect his image by going after those that played up the unverified sex story against his person.

Unverified news hit social media that South African female legislator, Zanele Sifuba alleged Governor Diri allegedly leaked her nude video over refusal to pay R300,000 (N8m) blackmail money.

Some news portals in Nigeria spread the story, which has been punctured by Diri’s media team, without authentication.

“Let it also be stated that there are consequences for publishing falsehood. The anonymity of the social media should not serve as shield for calumny and character assassination, with grave legal implications. Unfortunately, those portals circulating this unverified post have fallen into the trap and its repercussions” Governor Diri reacted to the development in a statement released by Kola Oredipe, the Director, New Media to the Bayelsa State Governor.

Oredipe further shredded the story against the Governor with the revelations that “

The post linking the governor to the allegation suddenly appeared on the Facebook page purportedly belonging to the woman after trending for more than a week.

Our investigation however revealed that the said account is fake and was only created on Thursday, November 10, 2022. 

For a scandal that initially appeared on the South African media space on October 31 and was first linked to a ‘Nigerian youth,’ it is obvious those behind the new twist opened the parody account with the deliberate intention to tarnish the image of the Bayelsa Governor.

Sadly, even without any effort to confirm the ridiculous allegation against the governor of a state, a few Nigerian online platforms rushed to publish the fake news from the ‘Zanele Sifuba Facebook’ account without investigating its source.

Let it be stated without any equivocation that Governor Diri does not know and has had no contact nor relationship with the said woman at the centre of the scandal. He has also not been to South Africa in the last 10 years.

While we have read about a purported attempt to collect R300,000 from her, the ‘young blackmailer’ is certainly not Governor Diri.

Ask the question: why would a governor of an oil-rich state resort to blackmail for a mere R300,000 (about N8 million)?This is simply ridiculous. “

Governor’s aide labeled the development ” just another failed attempt to distract the man that is single-minded on his developmental agenda for his state and who has in the last six weeks devoted his time and energy to managing the devastating flood that hit Bayelsa.” and urged that “The public is, therefore, advised to discountenance the news as it lacks merit and has no bearing whatsoever with the Bayelsa Governor.”