Southern youths condemn alleged plot to sack Akpabio
A group under the aegis of the Amalgamated Southern Nigeria Youths Forum has condemned, in very strong terms, moves by a section of the country to remove the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as the number three citizen.
The group, while describing the face-off between Akpabio and the Chairman Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, PDP, Kogi Central, as a politically motivated attempt to bring him down, however, dismissed the alleged sexual harassment claims against the President of the Senate, calling them a failed strategy aimed at destabilizing his leadership.
Addressing Journalists yesterday in Abuja, the group’s President, Hon. Oleh Victor, accused certain Northern elements of masterminding a smear campaign against Akpabio through Senator Natasha, alleging that the plot was designed to force his removal from office.
Flanked by the Secretary, Emmanuel Okorafor, the group’s President who accused certain northern elements of orchestrating false allegations against Akpabio, using Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a tool to execute their agenda, said that this conspiracy was designed to create unnecessary political tension and undermine the South’s rightful leadership position in the Senate and described it as dead on arrival.
Victor said,” The plan to remove Senator Akpabio has failed. It was dead on arrival. “We see clearly that this agenda was handed to Senator Natasha to execute, but they have failed woefully.”
While highlighting Akpabio’s contributions to national development, the group noted that under his leadership, several bills benefiting Northern Nigeria, including the North Central Development Commission Bill and North West Development Commission Bill, were passed.
On his part, Okorafor Emmanuel, the forum’s Secretary, while describing the claim that the North has not benefited from Akpabio’s leadership as baseless and misleading, said, “The 2024 and 2025 budgets contain numerous projects for Northern Nigeria. This accusation of neglect is just another falsehood like the sexual harassment allegation,”
In a strong-worded warning, the forum criticized the Arewa Youth Assembly for attempting to dictate Senate affairs and accused them of exploiting ethnic politics to destabilize Southern leadership, adding, We will not sit back while northern interests use Natasha to harass our leader,” the forum warned. “If these attacks continue, we can respond in ways that will shake the nation.”
The group expressed outrage over the allocation of multiple LNG plants to Kogi State while Niger Delta states, which produce the gas, were sidelined. They called for a fair distribution of national resources and vowed to resist further economic exploitation of the South.
You take revenue from our crude oil and gas but keep the profits from gold, lithium, and other minerals to yourselves. This injustice must stop,” they stated.
The forum did not mince words in outlining possible retaliatory actions. They warned that if the alleged conspiracy against Akpabio persists, they will take drastic steps, including blocking major roads and oil installations across the South.
The forum said, “If Northern leaders continue to harass Akpabio, we will shut down oil production. We know the names of oil block owners, and we will not allow them to continue exploiting our resources while undermining our leaders.“
Appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and caution northern leaders against further attacks on Akpabio, the group warned, “Mr. President, it is our right to hold the Senate presidency. Any further attempts to remove Akpabio will be met with serious resistance.”
