By Daniel Edu
Prominent figures from the Niger Delta region, united under the banner of the Citizens Network for Peace and Development (CNPDN), have declared their unwavering commitment to thwart any efforts aimed at impeaching Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Reports circulating in the media over the weekend suggested that certain senators were clandestinely scheming to unseat Akpabio when the legislative session resumes on September 26, following a two-month annual recess. The reports insinuated that these senators had convened in Saudi Arabia to solidify their plans, asserting that Akpabio had been acting subservient to President Bola Tinubu and had neglected his legislative duties.
In a statement issued on Saturday, bearing the signature of the group’s Secretary, Francis Wainwei, leaders from the South-South region expressed their skepticism toward the alleged impeachment threat and urged fellow Nigerians not to take it seriously.
The statement emphasized that, in the past decade, no Senate President had distributed chairmanships of standing committees as widely as Akpabio had, pointing out that opposition members were assigned influential committee positions.
Furthermore, the leaders argued that those pushing the impeachment narrative harbored ulterior motives aimed at destabilizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration by sowing unnecessary discord within the National Assembly.
The statement challenged the anonymous sources behind the purported impeachment plot to reveal their identities and accept the potential consequences of their actions.
In their own words, “We were greeted with a rather amusing story on Saturday morning regarding an alleged plan by certain unnamed senators to impeach Akpabio. Such tales are best dismissed. However, recognizing the propensity of some individuals to take jests too far in our society, we find it necessary to put an immediate halt to their speculations.
“Before these unidentified senators escalate their jests to a dangerous level, we wish to remind them that we will not stand idly by. We shall vehemently resist any move or attempt by anyone.
“We are well acquainted with the track record of these individuals, and we are fully aware that their true target is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Once they undermine the integrity of the National Assembly, they will proceed to target President Tinubu. We will not permit such actions.
“If you could not secure victory through the democratic process, you shall not seize power through covert means. Akpabio shall continue to preside over the 10th Senate and lead the National Assembly.
“No Senate President has accomplished what Akpabio has in just a few months. If not for malicious intent, why the haste to disrupt Akpabio’s tenure? The South-South region supported these very individuals when they held office.
“Why do they wish to undermine Akpabio, who represents the highest political office in the South-South—a region that is pivotal to the nation’s economy?
“In the interest of peace, we call upon these jesters to leave Akpabio alone and enable him to focus on the task of rejuvenating Nigeria alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The reconstruction of Nigeria is a collective responsibility. If you cannot endure the challenges, we implore you to step aside and allow those genuinely committed to Nigeria’s welfare to carry out their duties.”
