Akpabio’s Team Strikes Hard At Atiku’s Claims: ‘We Can’t Go To The Dustbin To Fight

In an interview with Punch on Thursday, Eyiboh stated that Akpabio respects Atiku and, as such, will not dignify the accusations with a response. Eyiboh was asked about Akpabio’s stance on the comments Atiku made in a recent media interview.

Atiku had referred to Akpabio as a corrupt politician and accused him of being involved in sexual abuse. These remarks were made during an interview on Untold Stories with journalist Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, where Atiku also implied that the National Assembly’s endorsement of the state of emergency in Rivers State was a result of the alleged corruption of its leadership.

Atiku had stated, “The Senate President is actually known for having that type of character, even when he was a governor. He (Akpabio) was not only corrupt as a governor, but he was also in the habit of abusing women. Akpabio is corrupt, not only is he corrupt, he has the habit of abusing women.”

In response, Eyiboh questioned whether Atiku was the right person to speak on corruption in Nigeria. “Is Atiku the proper person to discuss corruption in Nigeria, from your knowledge of history? So what is his history when it comes to corruption? Is he the proper person to take us on that?” Eyiboh asked.

Eyiboh stressed that Akpabio, as Senate President and the third-highest official in Nigeria, would not lower himself to such a debate. “My principal wouldn’t want to engage him on that issue. The Senate President doesn’t respond like that. He’s the former Vice President of Nigeria, and we are giving him that respect,” Eyiboh said.

He added, “No matter what he does, we cannot go to the dustbin to fight or start debating with him on such an issue.”

Eyiboh further explained that Akpabio’s position as the third-highest officeholder in Nigeria required his focus on important national issues, leaving no room for personal quarrels or debates. “The Senate President is the number three man in this country, and his primary responsibility is the preservation of the country’s sovereignty and respect for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So he will not be able to go to the street to join issues with anybody,” he concluded.