Senate President Godswill Akpabio has formally disowned a viral social media post falsely linking him to comments allegedly mocking United States President Donald Trump over his recent warning of military action in Nigeria. Akpabio described the post as “completely fabricated, malicious, and reckless.”
The clarification was issued in Abuja on Monday by Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, following a post shared by the social media platform Rant HQ. The post quoted Akpabio as saying, “The killing is taking place in Nigeria, not in USA, Trump should focus on US. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings, we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria.” The statement quickly went viral, sparking outrage amid heightened diplomatic tension after Trump accused Nigeria of widespread Christian persecution.
Eyiboh emphasized that the Senate President never made such remarks publicly, privately, in writing, or in conversation. He also noted that the photo accompanying the post, showing Akpabio at an unrelated official event, was used deceptively to lend false credibility to a fabricated quote.
“Senator Akpabio is a statesman of global repute and a respected advocate of international friendship, diplomacy, and mutual respect among nations. He holds President Trump in high regard and would never comment on internal matters of the United States or issue statements outside Nigeria’s executive and foreign policy domains,” Eyiboh said.
The statement described the viral post as “digital recklessness and a deliberate attempt to sow confusion, tarnish reputations, and inflame unnecessary diplomatic tensions.” The Senate President’s office urged the public to disregard the falsehood and warned against spreading unverified content for online attention.
This rebuttal comes after Trump’s weekend statement on Truth Social, where he threatened possible US military action in Nigeria, calling the country “now disgraced” and warning of intervention to combat Islamic terrorists following Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious persecution.
Akpabio’s office reiterated that the Senate remains focused on legislative responsibilities and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions, emphasizing the importance of verifying information before sharing. “The Office of the President of the Senate is committed to transparency, truth, and responsible communication, both within Nigeria and on the international stage,” the statement concluded.
