Akpabio’s Allies Dismiss Accusations of Anti-Northern Comments

Kinsmen of Senate President Godswill Akpabio have dismissed allegations by social media activist, Haruna Gololo, that Akpabio made inciting comments against the North ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A viral video shows Haruna Garba, popular on social media as Garus Gololo, accusing the Senate President of disrespecting the North. He said Akpabio told him that President Bola Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election with or without the North.

But the group, under the umbrella of the Isong Annang Ethnic Forum in Akwa Ibom State, in a statement issued in Uyo on Monday, defended the Senate President, saying it had investigated the claims and found the allegations to be false and orchestrated to tarnish his image.

The statement which was signed by the National President of the group, Prince Mendy Archibong; National Secretary, Elder Mfon Ebong; and National Women Leader, Hon. Emilia Udom, asked the originator of the allegation to provide proof.

“As a forum we have investigated the allegations made by Gololo which he maliciously attributed to our son. We found nothing to prove our son guilty. “It is therefore expedient to state that Senator Akpabio did not make any statement to undermine the support and role the people of Northern Nigeria would play in the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the year 2027.” the statement said.

The group described Akpabio as a respected nationalist who understands the importance of building unity with Nigerians no matter their tribe, faith or region.

The group said, “Distinguished Senator Akpabio is a celebrated nationalist who has a pedigree of political leadership that underscores his deep respect for the cultural and religious diversities in our country.

“Despite their distinctive heterogeneity, he understands the expediencies of cultivating a warm, homogeneous bond of brotherhood with all Nigerians from every tribe, faith and region.

“He has long respected the diversities of our nation before he became President of the Senate. It is evident in big and fundamental lifestyle choices our son made from when he served meritoriously as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.”

The group called on the leadership of Arewa to ignore what it called a campaign of calumny and also appealed to Northern elites to support the second-term bid of President Bola Tinubu in the interest of justice, fairness and preservation of political cooperation between the North and South.

The forum urges respected Arewa leaders and groups to dismiss the inciteful and divisive campaign of calumny fabricated by rampaging anti-unity propagandists who seek to sow disaffection and disharmony among ethnic groups and regions in the country especially as the 2027 general elections draw closer.

The forum urged the Northern Nigeria elites to support President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027 in the interest of justice, fairness and to sustain the long history of shared political cooperation between the North and the South in order to balance the power rotation between the North and South.

The group reiterated its solidarity and support for Tinubu and the Senate President and vowed to continue to be committed to mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.

“Isong Annang Ethnic Forum reiterates its unalloyed support and solidarity with President Bola Tinubu and Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, and pledges to remain faithfully committed to promote mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence between the Annang nation and other ethnic groups and regions in Nigeria,” the statement added.