Rubber stamp Akpabio doesn’t have moral justification to attack Peter Obi— Obidient Movement
Maureen Aguta
The Obidient Movement has reacted to a recent comment credited to the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in which he reportedly launched an unwarranted attack on the person of His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi.
According to media reports, (not Advocacy Times), Senator Akpabio advised Mr. Obi to first resolve the so-called crisis within the Labour Party before aspiring to lead the country.
The statement signed by the Director, Strategic Communications and Media Directorate, Obidient Movement, Nana Kazaure, reads in part:
“It is well known that the President of the 10th Senate is not particularly renowned for the substance or depth of his public utterances. However, we did not anticipate that he would descend to such an embarrassing low. For the benefit of Senator Akpabio, the internal issues within the Labour Party were duly taken before the courts by stakeholders of the party, under the leadership of Mr. Peter Obi. The Supreme Court – the highest court in the land – gave a clear and unambiguous ruling, affirming that the individual currently parading himself as the party chairman is doing so illegally.
“Rather than comply with the court’s directive, this usurper has been emboldened by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which continues to provide him with state security cover. These actions have rendered the Senate President’s insinuation that Mr. Obi is overwhelmed by intra-party crises not only disingenuous but also hypocritical. There is, in fact, no crisis within the Labour Party. What persists is the shameless interference of the APC – Senator Akpabio’s party – in facilitating the illegal tenure of Julius Abure, despite the clear ruling of the Supreme Court.
“It is, therefore, deeply ironic and unbecoming for Senator Akpabio to publicly highlight a situation his own party has played a key role in manufacturing and sustaining. If anything, his comments serve only to advertise his complicity in the artificial and externally-driven disruptions to the Labour Party.
“We really do not want to go into numerous personal accusations of the lack of discretion and self respect against Akpabio, especially given that they are adequately in the global public space and before the law courts. However, it is necessary we take this opportunity to advise him to channel his energy toward the more pressing task of salvaging the image of the 10th National Assembly – widely regarded as one of the most ineffectual and erratic legislative sessions in our democratic history. Is this not the same Senate President who, in full view of national television, casually informed his colleagues that he had deposited funds into their accounts to “go and enjoy,” even as the country groaned under the weight of unprecedented hunger inflicted by his party’s failed policies?
“As if that were not enough, during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests – an outcry against the worsening hardship imposed on Nigerians by the APC – Senator Akpabio was again quoted as saying that while the people may continue their protests, he and others at the helm would continue to eat and drink from the commonwealth. In any serious society, such a thoughtless, insensitive, and callous remark would have led to his immediate removal from office. Yet, Nigerians continue to watch as Senator Akpabio daily desecrates the highly revered office of the Senate President.
“In conclusion, we strongly advise Senator Akpabio to refrain from any further attacks on Mr. Peter Obi – a man whose stellar record of public service he can neither rival nor undermine. If the Senate President believes that casting aspersions on Mr. Obi is the strategy that will secure his tenure, he should be reminded that Nigerians have already delivered their verdict: under his leadership, the Senate has reached a historic low. He is, without doubt, the worst Senate President in Nigeria’s democratic experience,’ the statement concluded.