- Akpabio had recently informed senators of funds for “holiday enjoyment,” later revising his statement to offer blessings for a safe journey
- Nigerians criticized senators for insensitivity while citizens struggled with fuel subsidy removal
- The National President of Niger Delta Women League, Sheila Tamuno, called for Akpabio’s immediate resignation, citing disrespect to economic hardships
- Tamuno urged Akpabio to step down and urged senators to vote him out if he doesn’t resign willingly
Female leaders throughout the Niger Delta area have presented a deadline of one month to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, insisting that he steps down from his esteemed position within the legislative body due to his contentious comments regarding “holiday enjoyment.”
Concurrently, they pledged to gather more than a million women from the Niger Delta region for a significant demonstration at the National Assembly on September 26 if their request is not acknowledged.
This development emerges merely a fortnight subsequent to Akpabio’s announcement to fellow senators that funds had been transferred to their accounts for the purpose of “enjoying” their yearly recess.
He had said, “In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly.
“I withdraw that statement. In order to allow you to enjoy your holiday, the Senate President has sent prayers to your mail boxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return.”
His comment had generated heated debate and criticisms from Nigerians, with many berating the senators for being insensitive at a time the masses are still struggling to adjust to the removal of fuel subsidy.
A statement issued by the National President of Niger Delta Women League, Sheila Tamuno, on Monday however called for the immediate resignation of Akpabio for allegedly ‘desecrating the hallowed chambers by adding insults to the economic injuries of the average Nigerian man on the streets.’
The statement reads, “We call on Senator Godswill Akpabio to honourably resign his position as President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and drop the gavel with immediate effect. We also call on distinguished senators to stand up for the masses and vote Akpabio out should he not agree to toe the path of honor by resigning his office.
“For a man like Akpabio that comes with so much baggage to the hallowed chambers, we ordinarily would have expected him to take a break from his chequered past. We shall be mobilizing one million Niger Delta Women on September 26, 2023 to the gate of the National Assembly to either thank the Senate or pressure them to do the needful.
“As we continue to groan under the fangs of the current economic woes where families can no longer afford two square meals, skyrocketing cost of transportation, good health care services and bludgeoning electricity tariffs, we will not sit down and watch Akpabio sniff out the minutest hope of life through his unguarded acts of impunity and indiscretion. A stitch in time saves nine.”
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