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The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has distanced himself from a viral social media post linking him to comments allegedly mocking United States President Donald Trump over his recent threat of military action in Nigeria, describing the statement as “completely fabricated, malicious, and reckless.”
The clarification was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, following a post published by a social media platform known as Rant HQ.
The controversial post had 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, which quickly went viral, drew outrage online and sparked debates amid heightened diplomatic tension following Trump’s remarks accusing Nigeria of widespread Christian persecution.
In his reaction, Akpabio’s media office denied ever issuing such a statement — “not publicly, privately, in writing, or in conversation.”
“The post is a total falsehood, a product of mischief, and a desperate attempt to incite misunderstanding between Senator Godswill Akpabio and US President Donald Trump, as well as between Nigeria and its international partners,” Eyiboh said.
He added that the accompanying photograph used by Rant HQ — showing the Senate President at an unrelated official event — was “deceptively deployed to lend false credibility to a fabricated quote that was never uttered by him.”
“Senator Akpabio is a statesman of global repute and a respected advocate of international friendship, diplomacy, and mutual respect among nations.
“He holds President Donald Trump in high regard as a historic figure and a leader of a great nation.
“He would never comment on internal matters of the United States, nor issue any statement that falls within the exclusive domain of Nigeria’s executive arm of government or the nation’s foreign policy establishment,” the statement continued.
The Senate President’s office described the viral post as “a clear act of digital recklessness and a deliberate attempt to sow confusion, tarnish reputations, and inflame unnecessary diplomatic sentiments.”
“We urge the public to ignore this falsehood in its entirety.
“We warn those who trade in misinformation to desist from peddling unverified and fabricated stories just to chase online traffic. Freedom of expression is not freedom to lie,” Eyiboh added.
The rebuttal comes against the backdrop of Trump’s weekend statement on Truth Social, where he threatened possible US military intervention in Nigeria, saying his administration “may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists.”
The US president’s comment, made after designating Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious persecution, has divided opinion globally.
But Akpabio’s office reiterated that the Senate remains focused on legislative duties and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions, urging the media and the public to verify information before dissemination.
“The Office of the President of the Senate remains committed to transparency, truth, and responsible communication — both in Nigeria and on the international stage,” the statement concluded.
