‘Since You’re Against Godfatherism, Withdraw Your Son From Senate’ – Akpabio Taunts Former Lawmaker

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has criticised politicians who publicly oppose godfatherism but practice it in private.

Abia Radio News reports that Akpabio, while speaking on Saturday at the launch of ‘The Burdens of Legislators in Nigeria’, a book written by former Senator Effiong Bob, at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja, said credibility in the fight against godfatherism must be backed by personal example.

While pointing at the contradictions in the stance of some political actors, Akpabio argued that it is inconsistent to condemn godfatherism while benefiting from it.

Taunting an unnamed former lawmaker, Akpabio said the ex-lawmaker should withdraw his son from the National Assembly if he detests something wrong with the term.

He said. “And then, of course, members of the House of Assembly also include the son of a distinguished senator. So when I heard that he was against godfatherism, I said, okay.

 “Since you’re against godfatherism, maybe you’ll withdraw your son from the House of Assembly as a starting point of showing that you’re against godfatherism.

“You cannot be saying something on the left-hand side and practising it on the right. Otherwise, that will amount to approbating and reprobating.”

Akpabio, however, acknowledged that the son of the former lawmaker in question was performing well in the legislature.

He added, “But let the boy remain. He’s even doing his second term in the House. He’s on his second term, and he’s one of the leaders of the House of Assembly in himself.”