Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri has denied involvement in the leaked video of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) Speaker of the Free State legislature, Zanele Sifuba.
On Thursday, Ms. Sifuba accused a Nigerian man of leaking a nude video involving her and alleged that she had filed a civil lawsuit after the explicit video went viral on social media.
According to him, the man released the video after he refused to pay R300,000 (N7m) blackmail money.
The Free State Parliament quickly responded by ordering an inquiry into the scandal, describing it as gender-based violence.
Hours later, a Facebook account believed to belong to Ms. Sifuba posted a message that the governor of Bayelsa State was behind the leaked tape.
The post reads: “This is a picture of the man who leaked our video. He is my trusted lover: Nigerian officer Douye Diri.
“I trusted him with my life, but he betrayed me. Please share with the whole world to know who the man is.’
Reacting, the governor said he does not know, let alone have a relationship with Sifuba, who is at the center of a leaked nude video in South Africa.
The Bayelsa governor, who spoke through the Director of New Media, Kola Oredipe, said he had not been to South Africa in the last ten years.
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In a statement, Mr. Oredipe described media reports linking the governor to the trending story involving female MPs as pure distraction.
The statement reads in part: “The post linking the governor to the allegation suddenly appeared on the Facebook page allegedly belonging to the woman after more than a week.
“However, our investigation has revealed that the account in question is fake and was only created on Thursday, November 10, 2022.”
He noted that due to a scandal that first appeared in the South African media on October 31 and was first linked to a “young Nigerian”, it is obvious that those behind the new twist opened the parody account deliberately to tarnish the image. Governor of Bayelsa.
“Let it be said without any doubt that Governor Diri does not know and has had no contact and relationship with the said woman at the center of the scandal. He has not been to South Africa in the last ten years either.
“Although we have read about an alleged attempt to collect R300,000 from him, the ‘young blackmailer’ is not Governor Diri,” he says.
He further attributed the accusation to political mischief, saying they were desperate to tarnish the reputation of the governor of Bayelsa State.
Consul’s reaction
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Consulate General located in Johannesburg reported to numerous media outlets that a Nigerian citizen was involved in the leak of the nude video.
Nigeria’s diplomatic mission said the circulation of the video was a clear violation of Ms. Sifuba’s privacy.
“The mission unequivocally condemns and distances all law abiding Nigerians from the flagrant and reprehensible violation of Hon Sifuba’s privacy by anyone, Nigerian or not,” the consulate statement read.
He noted that the baseless allegation that the perpetrator was a Nigerian is likely to endanger the lives and property of law abiding Nigerians in South Africa.
“While awaiting the results of investigations into the true identity of the perpetrator of this heinous crime, the Mission wishes to appeal to the media not to make hasty and definitive conclusions about the suspect’s nationality, as this may affect the lives and property of the law. – Nigerians in South Africa are at risk,” the Consulate said.
He further assured the host authorities of full support and cooperation in the identification, tracking, arrest and prosecution of Nigerians responsible or complicit in the mindless circulation of the sex video.
More reactions
Other South African political groups, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), have condemned the strip traffic.
The South African media joined in calling for the individual behind the nudity video to be prosecuted.
The country’s Film and Publications Board (FPB) also took to Twitter to remove the sex tape of Free State Speaker Zanele Sifuba.
Background
Mrs. Sifuba, whose full name is Ntombizanele Beauty Sifuba, is a South African politician and educator who has been the Speaker of the Free State Legislative Assembly since May 2019.
The politician and activist, a member of the African National Congress, earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Vista University in 1988.
He also has a degree in psychology from the Central University of Technology. In 2017, Sifuba obtained a postgraduate diploma in governance and political transformation from the University of the Free State.
Mrs. Sifuba worked as a teacher from 1999 to 2019. He also served as deputy director responsible for monitoring and evaluation in the Provincial Department of Social Development.
In 1995, he was elected the deputy secretary of the African National Congress as the chairman of the party in Steyn region. He also held leadership positions in the South African Democratic Union of Teachers.
Although it is not clear if she is married, Mrs. Sifuba is said to have three children.
Before the leaked nudes happened, nothing controversial was known.
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