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SSS Arrest: My aide on his own over inciting comment, says Bayelsa Governor

Governor Diri Douye of Bayelsa says his media aide Bodmas Kemepadei arrested by the State Security Service, is on his own for making comments considered inciting.

• June 3, 2021
Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, SSS Director-General, Yusuf Bichi, and Bodmas Kemepadei
Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, SSS Director-General, Yusuf Bichi, and Bodmas Kemepadei

Governor Diri Douye of Bayelsa says his media aide Bodmas Kemepadei arrested by the State Security Service, is on his own for making comments considered inciting by President Muhammadu Buhari regime.

Mr Kola Oredipe, Director, New Media, Bayelsa state government, refuted the comments in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Yenagoa.

Mr Oredipe noted that Kemepadei lacked the powers and authority to speak for Diri.

Mr Kemepadei was reportedly interrogated by the SSS for making unpalatable comments on social media.

Mr Oredipe noted that the author acted of his own volition as the views he expressed had nothing to do with the Bayelsa government or the governor.

The Bayelsa government stated, “Our attention has been drawn to the arrest of Mr Bodmas Kemepadei by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged inciting posts on the social media against President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Let it be clear that Kemepadei lacks the authority to speak directly for His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa state.”

The government added, “Kemepadei, a blogger, was appointed into the Bayelsa state government new media team as a special assistant on new media and works under the direct supervision of the director, new media, who coordinates all government new media activities.

“He was, therefore, neither speaking on behalf of the governor nor the state government in his video that went viral.

“Kemepadei, in the said video and other posts, must have obviously spoken as a private citizen and not as a government official because the governor could never have authorised such comments against Mr President.” 

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