President Donald Trump’s recent threat of possible military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians stirred debate in the Senate on Tuesday, eliciting contrasting views between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Barau Jibrin.
While Akpabio distanced himself from a viral report claiming he had responded to Trump’s comments, saying, “Who am I to reply Trump?”, his deputy took a more defiant stance.
“I’m not scared of Trump. I will say my mind. I’m a Nigerian. Nigeria is a sovereign nation. I’m a parliamentarian. I’m the Deputy Senate President, I can speak. Don’t be scared of Trump. We are a sovereign nation,” Jibrin declared.
The exchange followed Akpabio’s clarification on a report by an online platform, RANT HQ, which alleged that he had rebuffed Trump’s remarks and defended Nigeria’s image. The Senate President denounced the report as fake and malicious, describing it as an attempt to cause disaffection and discredit the institution of the Senate.
“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?”
Akpabio told his colleagues that he had petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police to investigate the source of the publication, insisting that the Senate had not yet taken any position on Trump’s statement.
“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.
He further warned against the dangers of misinformation on social media, stressing that freedom of expression must 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 involved in the report.
The Senate President also noted that the upper chamber 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.
