Akpabio under fire for saying hardship protests were sponsored

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has come under heavy criticism for saying some of the street protests against the rising cost of living in the country were sponsored.

Daily Trust reports that there have been pockets of protests in different parts of the country, with the latest on Monday in Ibadan, capital city of Oyo state.

Also, residents had taken to the streets of Niger, Kano and Sokoto states to protest the prevailing economic hardship.

Since President Bola Tinubu ended the subsidy on petrol and unified the exchange rate in 2023, inflation had spiraled in Nigeria.

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Akpabio, while speaking on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday, said the protesters were not aware of the efforts made by the senate and the federal government to tackle the situation.

He said: “You can see a lot of sponsored protests here and there but those people are not aware — most of those sponsored protesters are not aware of the kind of efforts made by this senate to tackle the situation together with the management team of the federal government.

“Unverified reports have it that state governments in the last few months have received additional N30 billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), outside their normal allocations from the federation account, to assist them in ameliorating the food situation.

“So we believe that every state government should utilise the funds received towards ensuring that food is available.”

Reacting to the comments made by Akpabio, some Nigerians took to X to berate him

See some of the reactions below:

@birastockNFT: “Alright, so he’s claiming that the protest was sponsored. Fair point, I guess. But here’s my question as a Nigerian: Is the current wave of hardship and hunger also sponsored?”

@hungermadra: “You think you are living the same life as the people you voted in ? You think they can relate with your experience?”

@amudaDewale: “Lawmakers should go out there,take a bus,go to park and feel what Nigerians are going through.”

@XBrainDennis: “Apart from Tinubu, this man is the second greatest disappointment in Nigeria. I had so much hope on his Senate Presidency. But once again, I’m the idiot for hoping.”

@roomfa: “I hope one reasonable person in government will caution or stop this man from commenting on the ongoing hardship.”

@ambroseolowo: “Nigerians are not angry enough, that is why these guys keep telling open lies and get away with it…”

@MrAlaboRoland: “These guys are just insensitive to the plight of the ordinary Nigerian”

@generahben: “I Dey para Ooo, sponsored what? If supposed I know this man, sheybi I will give him one slap 👋… this is just warning ⚠️”

@wrightmichael90: “Akpabio thinks all these is a joke until the people in his senatorial district barricade am from attending plenary session. Abuja no too far from Akwa Ibom o”

@official_Goch: “Am shocked to hear that these protests are sponsored. One question is can one fake hunger and starvation? We all should be human and put other poor masses as bait. How would you feel if you can’t provide for your family and kids due to the current hardship, it’s a shame.”