OPC Not Invloved In Alapere Alleged Rape
The attention of the Oodua People’ s Congress has been drawn to the malicious alleged rape of a woman in Alapere area of Lagos State in which members of our organization have been linked with
We would have ignored the write up titled” Controversy trails the alleged rape of a woman by four OPC members” published in the Vanguard Newspaper of Wednesday 12 th of August 2015 but we considered the damage of the publication to the memory and knowledge of millions of readers , who read the story , all over the world
The OPC in clear term dissociated out members from the alleged nefarious activities and the police in Alapere police station and the Lagos State Police command have absolved members of our organization from the allegedlly dastardly act
Much as we believe in the rule of law freedom of expression , we frown against act of irresponsible journalism , that is capable of dragging the hard – earned names and reputation and names of individuals, groups and corporate organizations in the mire
It is germane at this point to emphasize that no member of the OPC has been arrested in connection with the said alleged rape and this can be verified with the police at Alapere police station and the state police command puvlic relation officer
As a responsible organization, we would have resorted to instituting a legal proceeding , but in appreciation of the cordial relationship between the OPC and the media in Nigeria , we have decided to thread the friendly part but pit the record straight
It is unthinkable in this modern world of information technology that a reporter will go the the press , without seeking the reaction of the accused person in a case as serious as rape . This is a great length of in discipline and irresponsibility. It is unethical and must be properly investigated
Our investigations not only revealed that our members were not in any way linked with the alleged rape but also that the police advised the writer of the said story to wait until the culprits were arrested but she rushed to the press, without considering the implication of the effect of the report on the readers
The Guild of Editors , the Nigerian Union Of Journalists and other regulatory bodies in the media industry should attach great importance to reaction and feedback from the accused persons or groups before publishing stories , that are damaging and injurious to people and organizations’ character and reputation
It is also important that the writer of the said story should do a follow up and do the needful by coming out with the true fact of the incident. Has it ever been established that the woman was raped and who were the people involved .
Signed
Comrade Azeez Jimoh
Coordinator OPC
Agboyi Ketu Local Government