By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied allegations of bribing senators with $15,000 to support the state of emergency proclamation in Rivers State.
He described the rumors as a malicious hate campaign against him.
Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, clarified that the Senate President had hosted Ramadan fast-breaking events for senators, which was misinterpreted as a bribery attempt. “I am aware and it is true that since Senator Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate assumed that position he has been breaking fast. He did it last year, he did it this year, so why is it turning it into a rumour?” Eyiboh questioned.
Regarding the alleged bribe, Eyiboh asked, “On the issue of the dollars, he is giving the money for what? People are just conjuring it to be able to give flavour to their malice and hate campaign.” He emphasized that Akpabio had been hosting these events for years, wondering why this particular instance was linked to bribery.
The allegations claimed that Akpabio distributed $5,000 on Tuesday and $10,000 on Wednesday to senators at his Maitama residence. However, Eyiboh dismissed this as a baseless fabrication, stating, “People are just conjuring the story of the $5,000, $10,000 to add flavour to their malice and hate campaign.”
The Senate and House of Representatives unanimously approved the state of emergency proclamation in Rivers State on Thursday, with Akpabio’s denial aiming to suppress speculations about vote-buying.
