The Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, has described as fake, a leaked video circulating on social media that he was involved in a sexual act with a South African female legislator, Zanele Sifuba.

Diri made this known via a statement issued on Saturday by the Director, New Media to the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr. Kola Oredipe.

Oredipe said Diri did not know and has had no contact nor relationship with South African lawmaker, noting that the governor has travelled to South Africa in the last 10 years.

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

The governor’s aide, however, noted that the government’s investigation revealed that said account is fake and was only created on Thursday, November 10.

Oredipe said: “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.

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“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.

“Clearly, political mischief-makers have gone on overdrive in their desperation to tarnish the reputation of a hard-working, calm, peaceful, and focused Governor of Bayelsa State.

“This story is 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.

“The public is, therefore, advised to discountenance the news as it lacks merit and has no bearing whatsoever with the Bayelsa Governor.

“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,” he stated.

The Star