Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has faulted social media report that the state government has ordered the closure of Apostolic church Onna for hosting a Thanksgiving service for the Young Progressive Party in the state.

The report claimed that the leadership of the church announced the suspension of its pastor, E Henshaw, for hosting YPP’s Thanksgiving and Dedication service

Henshaw shocked everyone in the congregation when he announced that he had just received a suspension message for opening the church doors for YPP.

But the PDP in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Borono Bassey, on Monday titled ” The Apostolic Church Suspension saga: These Lies Will not be tolerated!, described the suspension story as untrue and intended to smear the good reputation of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

READ ALSO: 2023: ‘I Have Nigeria’s Solution, Many People Wasting Their Time’ – Fr. Mbaka

The statement reads in part, “On Sunday, October 2, 2022, while Nigerians and Akwa Ibom people were still in a reflective mood of our Nation’s Independence celebrations, a few agents of retrogression in their desperate bid to turn attention to themselves, went into their Falsehood Manufacturing Factory and immediately produced a completely untrue report claiming that a certain church in ONNA has been sealed on the orders of the Government.

“While those who trafficked the report were too afraid to expressly state which of the governments they were referring to in that attention-seeking drivel of a report, they however made innuendoes which were suggestive of the fact that they were making reference to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

“Although it is gratifying to have seen the majority of the social media commentators, mostly of Akwa Ibom descent pick holes in the outrightly false story, we must however put it out in the public domain that immediately that tripe was put in circulation in the public domain, as a Party deeply interested in sustaining the God-given Peace we enjoy in Akwa Ibom State, several calls were put across to the leadership of the Apostolic Church in that field to ascertain the veracity of the story and the bewildered leaders stated that nothing of the sort happened.

“We however present the authors of that report with posers which we would want them to respond to? First, Is Governor Udom Emmanuel a clergy or member of any of the churches mentioned in that report to have directed the suspension of a priest? Second, Has the said Political party applied and paid for any public venue that is not encumbered and they were denied use?

“It is quite sad that if not for the wisdom of Akwa Ibom people who rose in unity to pick holes in that false report and call it what it is – A complete Hogwash, the authors of that report and their expected beneficiaries would have turned a hallowed place of worship – The Apostolic Church Nigeria into their first casualty in the series of things they plan to destroy in their journey to seeking elusive political offices.

“For a Governor who is making enviable, exemplary and applaudable efforts in delivering on the promises he made to Akwa Ibom people as encapsulated in his Completion Agenda, we will, in concert with millions of Akwa Ibom people, beginning from now, push back all forms of smear campaigns on Governor Emmanuel and other members of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State.

READ ALSO: 23 Years Of Democracy Has Failed To Meet Expectations For Youths, Gbajabiamila Laments

“We expect candidates of the opposition parties to steer the path of decency and concern themselves with issues throughout this electioneering period. With the new electoral act, this is not just morality, but the law.

“The PDP in Akwa Ibom State is confident that as it has been the tradition of Akwa Ibom people, they will together, in unison, tell off, those who seek to sow seeds of division amongst us through their selfish aspiration. They will also maintain a patriotic distance from candidates who in the bid to curry public sympathy degenerate to outright falsehood and traffic in painting the State in dark colours.

“Akwa Ibom has been on a journey of Progress with the PDP. With the trusted, unfailing support and consent of the people, we will continue on that journey”.