Senate President Godswill Akpabio has disowned a viral social media post attributing to him comments allegedly mocking U.S. President Donald Trump over his recent remarks on alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria, describing the publication as “completely fabricated, malicious, and reckless.”
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio dismissed the viral claim — first circulated by a social media platform known as Rant HQ — as a deliberate attempt to incite diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the United States.
The controversial post had falsely quoted Akpabio as saying, “The killing is taking place in Nigeria, not in the USA. Trump should focus on the U.S. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings; we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria.”
The statement, which quickly spread across social media, drew widespread backlash amid heated debate over President Trump’s recent comments accusing Nigeria of widespread Christian genocide.
However, Akpabio’s media office firmly denied the quote, insisting that the Senate President never made such remarks — not publicly, privately, or in any form of communication.
“The post is a total falsehood, a product of mischief, and a desperate attempt to incite misunderstanding between Senator Godswill Akpabio and U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as between Nigeria and its international partners,” Eyiboh said.
He further noted that the photograph used alongside the fake post — showing Akpabio at an unrelated official event — was “deceptively deployed to lend false credibility to a fabricated quote.”
According to the statement, Akpabio remains a statesman of global repute and “a respected advocate of international diplomacy, friendship, and mutual respect among nations.”
“He holds President Donald Trump in high regard as a historic figure and a leader of a great nation. He would never comment on internal matters of the United States nor make statements outside the purview of Nigeria’s executive arm or foreign policy establishment,” Eyiboh clarified.
The Senate President’s office condemned the post as “digital recklessness” and urged Nigerians to ignore the fake news, warning content creators against spreading unverified claims in pursuit of online engagement.
“Freedom of expression is not freedom to lie,” Eyiboh cautioned.
The rebuttal follows Trump’s recent Truth Social post threatening possible U.S. military intervention in Nigeria after declaring the country a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution.
Amid the controversy, Akpabio’s office reaffirmed that the Senate remains focused on its legislative responsibilities, strengthening democratic institutions, and promoting truth and responsible communication.
“The Office of the President of the Senate remains committed to transparency, truth, and constructive engagement both within Nigeria and on the international stage,” the statement concluded.
— Hobnob News
