APC gives Verydarkman a 7-day ultimatum to apologize for criticizing Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s recent trip to Rome, urging him to retract his statements or face consequences. The call for an apology came after VerydarkMan raised concerns about Akpabio’s decision to attend the Pope’s burial amidst Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges. VerydarkMan, in his public remarks, suggested that Akpabio should instead focus on visiting the Nigerian states that have been severely affected by violence and offer condolences to those impacted by the insecurity in the country, questioning the appropriateness of the trip at such a time.
In response, the APC’s South-South Zonal chapter swiftly demanded that VeryDarkMan issue a formal apology within a week for his remarks, which were deemed inappropriate and offensive to the Senate President and the Nigerian government. The APC condemned the social media influencer’s comments and his criticism of Akpabio’s trip, insisting that such attacks on prominent leaders were uncalled for and unwarranted, especially given Akpabio’s official role and his appointment by the President to represent Nigeria at the Vatican during the Pope’s funeral.
The statement, which was formally issued by Blessing Agbomhere, the South-South APC’s Zonal Organizing Secretary, emphasized the need for VeryDarkMan to respect the office of the Senate President and the Nigerian government. The statement, made available to the press in Abuja, read: “VeryDarkMan is becoming notorious for blackmail, slander, and character assassination while pretending to be an advocate for the masses and a social crusader. His attacks have become increasingly malicious and unjustified, and this cannot be allowed to continue, especially when he targets individuals serving in critical leadership positions such as the Senate President.”
Further justifying the APC’s demand, the statement clarified that Senate President Akpabio’s trip to Rome was not a personal decision but a diplomatic mission, with Akpabio being nominated by the President to lead the Nigerian delegation to the Pope’s funeral. The statement also addressed the broader context of Nigeria’s security situation, defending the actions of the government and its commitment to tackling insecurity. “The unwarranted verbal attack on the number three citizen of Nigeria, who did not send himself to Rome but was duly nominated by the President to lead a delegation to represent Nigeria — what exactly is wrong with that?” the statement asked rhetorically. The APC’s position was that the trip was an official duty and should not have been criticized in such harsh terms.
The statement also emphasized that President Tinubu, upon his return from France and the UK, had met with Nigeria’s security chiefs to discuss new strategies to combat the ongoing security issues in the country. “Upon his return from France and the UK, Tinubu met with the security chiefs, and during the meeting, he gave them marching orders to ensure that a different approach is deployed in the fight against insecurity. Does this sound like a man who is not serious about protecting the lives and property of Nigerians?” the statement continued, reinforcing the message that the government is actively working on the security challenges in the country and that progress may take time. “Mind you, the complex security problems in the country cannot be wished away with a wave of the hand; it takes time to achieve a semblance of peace, and that is a commitment that the Tinubu-led administration made to Nigerians while assuming office and is still committed to achieving.”