The Emohua Local Government Council in Rivers State has reacted to a trending picture purportedly showing its Chairman, Sir Chidi Lloyd, being stopped from touching the baby of his media aide, Bright Jossy-Elendu, during a child dedication ceremony.
The council dismissed the interpretation of the photograph, describing reports suggesting a strained relationship between Lloyd and his Special Adviser on Information and Strategic Communication as a deliberate attempt to create disaffection between the two.
In a statement signed by Jossy-Elendu on Thursday, the council said the photograph was taken during a recent family thanksgiving and dedication ceremony held by the media aide and his family, where Lloyd joined them to celebrate the birth of the child.
The council accused some blogs and pseudo-media platforms of using the photograph to create what it described as a false narrative about the relationship between the chairman and his aide.
It said the alleged plot followed a new car gifted to Jossy-Elendu by the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, whom it described as a longstanding friend of the media aide.
According to the statement, there is no unhealthy relationship between Lloyd and Jossy-Elendu, stressing that their relationship has gone beyond politics and local government administration.
“No amount of sponsored propaganda and blackmail can surmount the relationship that exist between Sir Chidi Lloyd and Bright Jossy,” the statement said.
The council further stated that Lloyd sincerely appreciated the Bonny chairman for the gesture and was the first person to reach out to Pepple to register his appreciation, even before the car gift was made public.
It also praised Jossy-Elendu for his loyalty and commitment to Lloyd, saying he had remained a steadfast supporter of the chairman even during challenging periods.
The council urged the public to disregard what it described as sponsored misinformation and misleading commentaries surrounding the trending photograph.
