Ogewu, Reps Member, Clears the Air on 'Fools' Comment About Youths

Table of Contents

• Denial of Allegations
• Press Release Details
• Clarification of Comments
• Public Reaction
• Call to Action

The member representing Oju/Obi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. David Agada Ogewu, has rejected claims that he labeled the youth of the Igede nation in Benue State as fools.

According to DAILY POST, a group known as the Igede Youths Council (IYC) has made allegations against the youths from the region.

However, in a press release issued by his media office, the representative denied these allegations, clarifying that his comments were directed at a small number of sponsored youths who recently protested against Senator Abba Moro.

The media office also questioned why there was no attempt to provide a fair and balanced report by reaching out to the lawmaker for his side of the story.

Ogewu provided a detailed explanation, stating that a publication signed by one Comrade Andyson Iji Egbodo and Smith Akoko, representing a self-proclaimed and unauthorized group called the Igede Youth Council, was merely a deliberate attempt to tarnish his hard-earned reputation and mislead the public.

The release stated: “He (Ogewu) never called the Igede youths fools. His remarks were specifically aimed at a few misguided individuals who insensitively organized a protest against Senator Abba Moro—just 48 hours after the senator lost his two beloved sons.

“Hon. Ogewu simply characterized the actions of the protest organizers as ‘foolishness and lacking empathy,’ not the entire youth population of Igede.

“It is important to stress that Hon. Ogewu’s criticism arose from a genuine concern for the image of the Igede nation. The timing of the protest, occurring while Senator Abba Moro was grieving, was perceived by many well-meaning Nigerians as inconsiderate.

“In fact, several individuals from outside the Oju/Obi Constituency personally contacted Hon. Ogewu to express their disappointment over the incident, describing it as unfeeling and poorly timed. His statement was therefore intended to uphold the moral reputation of our community, not to insult them.”

The lawmaker urged the public to dismiss the unfounded accusations, while also cautioning Andyson Iji Egbodo and Smith Akoko to refrain from being used to undermine the positive work of President Bola Tinubu in Igede land.

“We encourage the general public, especially the residents of Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, to completely disregard the unfounded publication by these impostors. Their statements are merely the work of political detractors eager to incite discord.

“We hereby advise Andyson Iji Egbodo and Smith Akoko to stop allowing themselves to be manipulated by politicians who thrive on division and mischief, hindering the positive initiatives being implemented by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Oju/Obi federal constituency.”