The Senate has denied viral claims that Usoro Akpabio, the newly appointed Managing Director of the South-South Development Commission, is the first daughter of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, clarified the situation in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday.
President Bola Tinubu had appointed Usoro as the Commission’s MD and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche from Rivers State, as its Chairman.
The nominations were contained in a letter from the President that was read at Senator Akpabio’s plenary session on Thursday.
Tinubu also requested Senate confirmation for 16 other nominations to serve on the commission’s board, which will have its headquarters in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Shortly after the letter was made public, rumours circulated that Mrs Akpabio is the Senate President’s first daughter.
However, Adaramodu described the rumour as baseless.
“There is no iota of truth in that report,” he said. “It’s just like hearing someone named Adaramodu in Osun or Ondo and assuming he’s my brother. Things don’t work that way.”
According to the lawmaker, despite sharing a surname and state of origin, there is no familial relationship between the two Akpabios.
“The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is entirely different from Usoro Akpabio, the MD of the South-South Development Commission. Culturally, people may have similar names, but that doesn’t mean they are related,” he explained.
“This appointment was based on merit and was made by the President. She is not in any way connected to the former governor of Akwa Ibom.
“Of course, that doesn’t mean a qualified member of the Senate President’s family couldn’t be appointed. But in this particular case, there is no relationship whatsoever,” Adaramodu stated.
