Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended himself against allegations that he disparaged Islam, citing his longstanding support for Muslim pilgrims and his sponsorship of thousands of Christians to religious sites abroad.
Akpabio said he had sponsored 5,800 Muslims to Mecca and more than 10,000 Christians to Rome and Jerusalem, insisting that his record contradicted claims that he held Muslims or their religious beliefs in contempt.
The Senate president spoke during plenary on Thursday while responding to the controversy surrounding his remarks during deliberations on the Suicide Prevention Bill 2026.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South Senatorial District, seeks to address issues relating to suicide prevention.
During Tuesday’s debate, Akpabio reportedly said some young people contemplate suicide because “they believe seven virgins await them in the afterlife.”
The comment drew criticism from some commentators, who accused him of making disparaging remarks about Muslims and their religious beliefs.
However, Akpabio maintained that his statement had been taken out of context and misinterpreted for political reasons, arguing that disagreements during legislative proceedings should not be portrayed as attacks on particular religious groups.
“I love the Muslim religion. I send people to Mecca to pray for me and to pray for this country, and I do that even up to yesterday, and I have been doing that since the last 25 years,” he said.
He expressed displeasure over what he described as the misrepresentation of discussions in the Senate, particularly when comments made during debates were subsequently discussed on television programmes.
“So I don’t know why people go and sit down on television and they try to misinterpret what we say here because politics is coming,” he said.
Akpabio argued that lawmakers were expected to disagree during debates as they worked towards making laws that would serve the country’s interests.
“I don’t like the idea of people sitting down on television and trying to misinterpret what we discuss here in the senate,” he said.
“We want to make the best laws, so we are bound to oppose each other, and we are also bound to support each other.”
To reinforce his position, the Senate president referred to his record of supporting religious pilgrimages during his tenure as governor, saying he had facilitated trips to holy sites for both Muslims and Christians.
According to him, his relationships with people of different religious backgrounds also demonstrated that he did not discriminate on religious grounds.
Akpabio disclosed that his aide-de-camp had served him for 19 years and was a Muslim, adding that he regarded him as a brother rather than viewing him through the lens of religion.
“My ADC for 19 years is a Muslim. I don’t recognize him as a Muslim. I recognize him as a brother; he’s from Azare in Bauchi state, the same thing with my CSO,” he said.
He added that a significant number of people working with him were Muslims and said their relationships were built on mutual respect.
“There’s no way I will talk down on Muslim religion, so people who go out there to talk should study the personalities involved,” he said.
The Senate president also cautioned against associating terrorism with any particular faith, arguing that religious identity should not be used to justify violence or suicide attacks.
“Terrorists are not Muslims. Terrorists are not Christians. Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their lives and the lives of others,” he said.
He maintained that Islam, as he understood it, prohibited suicide and the killing of others, rejecting the suggestion that the religion encouraged people to take their lives in anticipation of a heavenly reward.
“The Muslim religion that I know forbids suicide; it forbids killing,” he said.
Akpabio further referred to provisions of the Criminal Code and Penal Code relating to suicide, urging lawmakers to consider the issue carefully, including the distinction between people experiencing mental health challenges and those who deliberately take their own lives.
He said the debate surrounding the bill should be viewed within the broader objective of developing legislation to address suicide and related concerns rather than being reduced to a controversy over isolated remarks.
The Senate president also urged Nigerians to consider the outcome of legislative proceedings when assessing debates in the chamber, noting that lawmakers could hold opposing views before reaching a final decision.
“No matter the discussion, please take the final decision of the senate into consideration,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to concentrate on substantive issues in political discourse rather than what he described as attempts to damage public officials’ reputations through the misinterpretation of their statements.
Post A Comment: