Akpabio should resign over protest comment – APC chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has demanded the resignation of the Senate, President Godswill Akpabio, for allegedly taunting hunger protesters to go ahead with the protest “we shall be eating”.

Though Akpabio had denied making the statement, Vatsa, in a statement on Tuesday, described the remark as insensitive and embarrassing to the ruling party, saying it was an exhibition of the culture of “eating” in the Peoples Democratic Party where Akpabio came from.

The former Commissioner for Information in Niger State demanded that the Senate President tender an apology to Nigerians.

Vatsa said, “It is a huge error and a disservice to this country to turn around and make someone like Akpabio a Senate President in the APC government. That is why this government can never get it right.

“The APC, as a party, has been hijacked by those that Nigerians were fed up with and decided to embrace ‘change’ in 2015. They have been eating and they want to continue eating like Akpabio made Nigerians believe.

“I said it before and I will repeat it that it is sad that we are giving red carpet reception to those we initially accused of looting this country with reckless abandon, so how can we get it right?

“The same eating Akpabio ate for 16 years under the PDP government, he still wants to continue eating under the APC government. This is the tragedy of a nation.”

Vatsa said since Akpabio’s state, Akwa Ibom, was under the PDP he “shouldn’t have been allowed to occupy the seat of the Senate President.”

“This party must begin to redeem its image and build confidence in Nigerians before 2027. This must start from Akpabio’s resignation to let Nigerians know that we are serious as a party,” Vatsa.