An activist and social commentator, Comrade Timi Frank, has called on Senate President God’swill Akpabio to resign immediately following his revelation that money had been sent to all Senators by the management of the National Assembly to enjoy their annual vacation.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Frank described Akpabio’s revelation on live national TV as a “show of shame” and a mockery of democracy and Nigerians.
He said it was insensitive for the federal lawmakers to enjoy national resources in the name of holidaying at a time Nigerians were facing hardships and other economic challenges.
Akpabio had on Monday night, at the end of a special plenary session where the Senate completed the screening and confirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees, openly informed Senators that the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Magaji Tambuwal, had wired money into their bank accounts in order to enjoy their annual holiday.
“In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly…,” Akpabio said with interruptions from Senators, who were apparently dissatisfied with Akpabio’s public disclosure for fear of a backlash overheard.
The development forced the Senate President to pause and thereafter withdraw the statement for the record and rephrased the same information.
“In order to enjoy your holidays, the Senate President has sent prayers to your mailboxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return,” Akpabio said in the alternative to calm down frayed nerves.
The Senate had adjourned plenary on Monday till September 26, 2023, in order to observe its annual recess.
Frank said Akpabio’s actions were a “show of shame” and a “national embarrassment.” He called on President Tinubu to “end this joke and Nollywood act of Akpabio” and to tell him to resign immediately.
Frank also called on members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to cut off all communications with the federal government until their demands were met. He said Nigerians “can no longer bear this. This Nollywood has to end, and the time to end this Nollywood is now.”
