The Arewa Think Tank has dismissed a social media graphic attributed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, describing the alleged statement as fake and politically motivated.
The reaction followed a reported petition by Akpabio’s Chief of Staff, Chinedu Akubueze, to the Department of State Services (DSS), requesting an investigation into the source and circulation of the graphic.
The viral graphic purportedly carried a statement attributed to Akpabio which read: “Northerners, You Will Be The Ones To Suffer The Most, If You Allow Tinubu To Lose The Election.”
Akpabio’s office has denied making the statement, describing the graphic as “manifestly false, inflammatory and dangerously divisive.”
Reacting to the development, the convener of the Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, warned that the alleged statement could heighten ethnic tensions and create unnecessary friction between northern Nigeria and other parts of the country.
Yakubu said the issue was particularly concerning as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is precisely the kind of dangerous misinformation that Nigerians must reject. Senator Godswill Akpabio has consistently operated within the constitutional framework of his office, and there is no justification for attributing statements to him that he did not make,” Yakubu said.
He called on security agencies to trace the origin of the graphic, identify those responsible for creating it and establish whether its distribution was part of a coordinated effort.
According to Yakubu, political statements capable of stirring ethnic sentiments could have serious consequences, especially in an environment already marked by heightened political activity.
He therefore urged political stakeholders and their supporters to allow the appropriate authorities to carry out a professional and impartial investigation into the matter.
Yakubu also advised Nigerians, particularly those in the northern region, to be cautious about political materials shared on social media and avoid allowing unverified claims to influence their views.
He further appealed to social media users to exercise restraint before forwarding political content, especially messages that could trigger ethnic, religious or regional tensions.
Source: Arewa Think Tank
