Senate President Godswill Akpabio has told Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and others pressuring him to step down from his position to rethink, stating that he will not yield to their demands.
Akpabio has faced calls to resign due to allegations of sexual harassment by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and a claim of electoral fraud in 2019.
Speaking in response to remarks from Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), who urged him and other lawmakers to stay focused on their legislative agenda, Akpabio emphasised that he had no intention of stepping down over baseless allegations.
He stressed that he would not allow himself to be a victim of injustice.
Akpabio said, “I would not have answered you, but for the fact that you said those who would have asked you to step down, who told you I was going to step down? You know, if you watch the colour of America, there are Black people who went to prison for false allegations.
“Some were there for 25 years. So I’m not one of those people who will step down over false allegations. When it is eventually proven that the allegation is false, they will say, ‘Oh well… I’m not that bad.’”
He added, “So if you had that in mind, please cancel it. I must thank you for the words you spoke today.”
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State also responded to the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, regarding his comments on the proposed national security summit by the Senate.
The Senate President emphasised that the minister must attend the summit in his capacity as minister.
Akpabio made the comments after Senate Leader Bamidele reported that Badaru had downplayed the importance of the Senate’s planned two-day security summit, describing it as unnecessary.
Akpabio stated, “If Defence has any issue with any resolution of the Senate, it shouldn’t do so in the market. It should get in touch with the Senate President or Senate leaders. It should get in touch with us, not speak in the open. It will only lead to an executive-legislative brouhaha. We will address this at the appropriate time.”
During a ministerial meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Badaru asserted that Nigeria’s Armed Forces were better equipped and more sophisticated than the rebels.
He belittled the summit’s significance, emphasising that the main issue lay in the unanticipated tactics used by terrorists, who are frequently assisted by informants in local communities.
While conceding that security summits might provide useful information, Badaru noted, “Strategy is far more important than a summit.” However, the summit will provide some guidance for the strategy. When you conduct a summit, you bring people together, listen to their feedback, and then create or renew the plan accordingly.”
Bamidele had previously defended the Senate’s work, stating that while they were open to criticism, they could not allow false charges.
He emphasised that the Senate had been working on reforms, including the approval of tax reform legislation, and that it will continue to work on electoral and constitutional changes.
He remarked, “People should not mistake our unintentional decision not to grandstand for being a rubber-stamp parliament. We have worked on overriding public interest, and we are willing to do more.
“Our focus is on national security, which is why we’re concerned by the Minister of Defence’s dismissal of the proposed summit.”
Bamidele also sent the minister a direct message: “When the time comes to hold the national security summit, you should be eager to honour our invitation.”
Finally, Bamidele emphasised that the Senate will stay focused on its mission, unaffected by unfavourable attitudes or politically motivated distractions, and will continue to work for the Nigerian people.
He once again stated, “The Senate is an institution and is bigger than any individual.”
