Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta State, has issued a warning about the potential for troublemakers to exploit social media.
Those who seek to foment division, especially from outside the state, should exercise caution, the governor said at the funeral ceremony of Mrs. Grace Agbolayah at the African Church, Central Missionary Diocese, Warri. He pleaded with parents and guardians to warn their children against participating in hate speech online.
Reiterating that Warri and Delta State as a whole can only be developed through unity, he urged the elders and leaders of the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic groups to reject separatist aspirations and accept peace.
Noting that he would not take sides as governor but rather serve the interests of all Deltans, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to the development of Warri.
He pleaded for moderation in the face of the crisis-inspiring and disinformation-spreading potential of social media.
Unity is ultimately what we require. The aftermath of a crisis is something I have personally experienced. Someone needs to put a stop to the troublesome behaviour seen on social media.
“This is my home, and some of the young people today have not enjoyed the Warri we experienced back then,” Oborevwori remarked, expressing his desire to develop Warri.