‘Withdraw Your Son If You Hate Godfatherism’ — Akpabio to Ex-Senator Effiong Bob

Politicians who openly condemn godfatherism but engage in it privately have come under fire from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who has stated that personal examples are necessary to establish credibility in the fight against the problem.

Speaking on Saturday at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre in Kado, Abuja, Akpabio attended the book launch of The Burdens of Legislators in Nigeria, authored by former Senator Effiong Bob.

Former Senate President Senator David Mark presided over the ceremony.

Akpabio responded to the event’s godfatherism debates by pointing out what he called inconsistencies in the positions of certain political figures.

Of course, the son of a well-known senator is also a member of the House of Assembly. Therefore, I answered, “Okay,” when I learned that he opposed godfatherism, Akpabio stated.

“As a first step in demonstrating your opposition to godfatherism, you might remove your son from the House of Assembly,” he continued.

The Senate President contended that denouncing godfatherism while purportedly profiting from it is contradictory.

“You cannot practice something on the right while pronouncing it on the left. If not, that would be equivalent to both approving and reprimanding,” he said.

Nonetheless, Akpabio admitted that the concerned politician was doing well in the assembly.

But let the boy stay. He is now serving his second term in the House. He is serving a second term and is one of the House of Assembly’s leaders in his own right,” he stated.