Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied claims that he responded to United States President Donald Trump’s threat of possible military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio described the report, published by an online platform, RANT HQ, as fake, malicious, and aimed at creating disaffection and discrediting the National Assembly.
“Somebody will sit in the comfort of his room, produce a report and fake pictures from 2023 when the Senate President and Senators visited Port Harcourt for a different event, and then claim I replied President Trump. Who am I to answer Trump?” Akpabio said.
“That the Senate President said Nigerians are not complaining, how can someone just fabricate such a story?” he added.
The Senate President told his colleagues that he had petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the source of the publication.
He clarified that the Senate had not taken any official position on Trump’s statement, according to The Sun.
“I’ve petitioned the police and the DSS. It is the Presidency that will respond to President Trump. All Nigerians are doing their best in that direction. But who would ascribe a comment to the Senate President when no such conversation took place? It is meant to cause friction and put the Senate in disrepute,” he said.
Akpabio also warned against the growing menace of misinformation on social media, stressing that while freedom of expression is a democratic right, it should not be abused to destabilise the nation.
“Social media should not break Nigeria,” Akpabio cautioned, adding that he had directed his lawyers to petition the blogger responsible for the false report.
He concluded that the Senate would only make a formal statement on Trump’s threat once the Federal Government’s position becomes clear.
“The Senate is yet to take any position until we know the direction of the government,” he said.
