Akpabio tackles Obi over remarks about Nigeria’s past heroes
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, tackled the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his remarks towards Nigeria’s past heroes.
Akpabio made the criticism during the valedictory session held in honour of the late Niger Delta elder statesman and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark.
This is coming barely 24 hours after Obi, while eulogising Clark, claimed that the labours of Nigeria’s past heroes had ultimately been in vain due to the numerous challenges currently facing the country, particularly economic issues.
“For someone like me who just participated in the 2023 general election, he (Clark) lived a life of courage, sacrifice, justice, and value. So why do we keep saying the labours of our heroes past should not be in vain? I’m happy that Jonathan is here.But I can tell you, their sacrifices are in vain. They have sacrificed for nothing. We were in this country when people protested when there was no need to protest under Goodluck Jonathan. Where are those protesters now? Have they disappeared?
“Jonathan increased fuel from N87 to N120, and people protested. Now that it’s N900, there are no protests. So again, why do we keep saying their labours should not be in vain?” he queried.
Meanwhile, Akpabio insisted that a personality like Obi, who he accused of being overly focused on winning the presidency, had done nothing to address the internal crisis in the Labour Party.
“If you cannot even resolve the crisis within the Labour Party, is it Boko Haram’s crisis you’ll come and resolve in Nigeria? I would like us to be remembered for what we achieved when given the opportunity. As I speak, I can point to the dualised roads in my city. I can talk about some of the best international hospitals in my city. I have one of the best digitalised governor’s offices. I provided free and compulsory education. I also fostered religious unity by sponsoring over 5,800 Muslims and more than 15,000 Christians to Rome and Jerusalem.
“But those aspiring to be presidential candidates, who use social media to cause division with their words — tell them to fix the small party they have before talking about a larger Nigeria. Social media is unregulated,” he fumed.
