Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dewan Kudangbena Gabriel, has demanded a public apology from one Vivian Bwehmana Matur, following defamatory comments made about his character on social media. The speaker, who expressed deep dissatisfaction over the false claims, insists on a retraction of the statement, alongside a formal apology to be published on social media and in at least one national daily newspaper.
In his statement, Hon. Gabriel made it clear that he had been inundated with calls and messages regarding the issue, despite his attempts to avoid being drawn into it. He expressed concern that his reputation and office had been unnecessarily questioned due to the malicious comments.
“I am a responsible Nigerian citizen and a forebearer of the Constitution,” the Speaker emphasized, adding that he respects everyone’s freedom of speech as outlined in the Nigerian Constitution. However, he condemned the statements made by Matur as “false, baseless, malicious, and defamatory,” saying that they had caused significant damage to his personal and professional image.
Hon. Gabriel further stressed that he had always conducted himself with integrity in his public and private life and did not want his hard-earned reputation to be “smeared and put to ridicule.”
Addressing the legal steps taken, the Speaker disclosed that Matur had been picked up for interrogation and investigation, stating that he was also invited to provide his side of the story. According to him, investigations revealed that all the claims made by Matur were “lies aimed at damaging” his character.
In a bid to resolve the issue, Hon. Gabriel requested that Matur retract her statement and offer a public apology. He noted the importance of publishing this apology both on social media and in at least one national daily newspaper. “I am a leader and a politician. I know the damaging implications of this statement to my career advancement and personal development,” he explained, adding that the public apology would serve as protection against future attacks from adversaries.
The Speaker also hinted that Matur’s actions might have been part of a larger scheme orchestrated by his opponents. “Who knows, the lady could even be acting a script carefully manipulated by one of the adversaries!” he remarked, though he left that to the “conscience of the world to judge.”
Despite his grievances, Rt. Hon. Gabriel expressed a willingness to forgive once the necessary public apology had been made. He acknowledged that several elders, leaders, and individuals had intervened in the matter and reiterated his commitment to peace. “Once she renders the public statements as I requested, I will plead also with the law that I have forgiven her and the people behind her (if any).”
