Afenifere, the leading Yoruba socio-cultural group, has strongly condemned the smear campaign and false allegations against Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate. They assert that his only „crime“ is his willingness to collaborate with the President for progress.
In a statement released in Akure, signed by the organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, the group reacted to revelations from Dr Sandra Duru. She claimed that the sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, a suspended National Assembly member, were untrue and part of a broader scheme to undermine President Bola Tinubu‘s government.
Dr Duru, a US-based activist, stated that Akpoti Uduaghan had approached her to participate in the campaign against Akpabio for a reward of N200 million, which she turned down due to her conscience.
Afenifere praised Duru for her bravery in speaking out against such conspiracies. They condemned the use of false allegations as political weapons, emphasising that politics must not breach human decency.
The group rejected the internationalisation of fabricated domestic issues, likening it to setting one’s cinema seat on fire while crying for help out of selfish ambition. They asserted that Nigeria is not a personal or tribal empire and will not succumb to tribal blackmail or false narratives.
Afenifere called on all patriots to defend truth, justice, and constitutional order, warning that nations can fall through violence and the repetition of lies masquerading as truth. They concluded that Nigeria has come too far to be hindered by petty ambitions disguised as activism, urging a collective rejection of sabotage.