Our attention at Anambra Times has been drawn (late last night), to a FAKE NEWS posted on a WhatsApp Group by the name, ANAMBRA POLITICAL STAKEHOLDERS FORUM where the author mischievously and wickedly credited to Anambra Times as his source. The FAKE NEWS was posted by one LAW OZALLA and titled: *“Breaking: APGA’s Plot to Assassinate Ebubemunso Thickens.”* We wish to categorically state as follows:
1. Anambra Times has never published a news item with such a Slug (title) on our news blog or posted any content that forewarns of any planned violence against anybody on any social media platform or WhatsApp Group. Our website/news blog (www.anambratimes.ng) is open 24 hours to the public and this can be fact-checked and confirmed.
2. Our editorial team, including our Editor-in-Chief do not belong to the WhatsApp Group in question.
3. Our reportage in the last 8 years when Anambra Times debuted has been characterised by objective and accurate reporting. We are guided by our slogan which says: “…facts don’t lie”. We are not known for reporting lies and this is why we have commanded a cult following/readership for close to a decade now.
4. The format of the said report does not sync with our House Style where we insist on using our reporter’s byline to identify who filed in a story or “AT Reporter” to indicate that the news was distilled in-house from a pot-pourri of reports.
5. Someone somewhere, in attempt to give his false report some credibility, must have opted to freeload on Anambra Times editorial integrity to get some attention. We will resist any attempt to stain our hard-earned professional reputation built over these years.
6. We wish to emphatically state once again that at no time did we write or publish the said news story which we consider malicious, aimed at creating panic and bad blood, as well as unnecessarily overheating the polity.
7. Administrators of the WhatsApp Group should check what their members dump on the platform to avoid dire consequences for their negligence.
Signed
SIR PAUL NWOSU PhD
Editor-in-Chief
Anambra Times
January 10, 2025