Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Consultant on Communications and Strategy to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Mr. Kenny Okolugbo, has said that Akpabio is hale and hearty, attending to sessions at the Senate.
He said this to clear the air about the rumours making the rounds that he is sick or possibly dead.
Truth Live News Media reports that Okolugbo, dismissed the rumours of Akapbio’s ill health while appearing on Channels Television’s programme Morning Brief on Thursday.
He however called the social media reports false and baseless.
Okolugbo added that Akpabio has been active in the dispensation of his duties.
“The Senate President is very healthy. You saw him; he’s been attending sessions, and that answers the question,” Okolugbo stated.
Speaking further, he referenced a similar case involving the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, who reports claimed incapacitated but appeared the following day.
“Even Minister Wike was affected by similar rumours. One day they said he was in a coma or had suffered a stroke, and the next day he was commissioning projects and appeared on a live programme.”
“We must regulate social media. Everybody’s a publisher online, but they don’t seem to understand that the law prohibits sharing information you are not sure of,” Okolugbo said.
Recall that the Nigerian Senate had earlier given a marching order to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to probe reports which claimed the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is dead.
Recall that Godswill Akpabio became the President of the Nigerian Senate on 13 June 2023. He was elected to lead the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after the general elections, succeeding Ahmad Lawan
The resolution was made during plenary on Tuesday, following a point of order raised by Senator Titus Zam, who quoted fake reports circulated on social media platforms that the President of the Senate suffered a health emergency and was rushed to a hospital in London.
He said that such fake news is unacceptable and those behind the misinformation should be fished out and made to face the law to serve as a deterrent to others.