On Thursday, March 13, the Amalgamated Southern Nigeria Youths Forum strongly condemned the alleged efforts by certain groups to remove Senator Godswill Akpabio as President of the Senate.
The group described the attempts as politically motivated and aimed at undermining the South’s leadership in the Senate.
The group’s President, Hon. Oleh Victor, accused certain Northern elements of using Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, to launch a smear campaign against Akpabio. These accusations, including sexual harassment claims, were dismissed by the group as a failed strategy to destabilize Akpabio’s leadership.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Victor said, “The plan to remove Senator Akpabio has failed. It was dead on arrival. We see clearly that this agenda was handed to Senator Natasha to execute, but they have failed woefully.” He also emphasized Akpabio’s key role in passing significant bills that have benefitted Northern Nigeria, including the North Central and North West Development Commission Bills.
The group’s Secretary, Emmanuel Okorafor, also rejected the claim that Akpabio’s leadership neglected Northern Nigeria. He pointed out that the 2024 and 2025 budgets include numerous projects for the North, calling such accusations baseless.
In a strong statement, the group condemned the Arewa Youth Assembly for trying to interfere with Senate affairs and accused them of using ethnic politics to weaken Southern leadership. “We will not sit back while northern interests use Natasha to harass our leader,” they warned. “If these attacks continue, we can respond in ways that will shake the nation.”
The forum also criticized the allocation of LNG plants to Kogi State, highlighting the unfairness of sidelining Niger Delta states, which produce the gas. They called for a fairer distribution of national resources and vowed to resist any further exploitation of the South’s resources.
In a direct challenge to the ongoing efforts against Akpabio, the group threatened to take drastic actions, including blocking major roads and oil installations in the South. “If Northern leaders continue to harass Akpabio, we will shut down oil production. We know the names of oil block owners, and we will not allow them to continue exploiting our resources while undermining our leaders,” they declared.
The group also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, cautioning northern leaders against further attacks on Akpabio. “Mr. President, it is our right to hold the Senate presidency. Any further attempts to remove Akpabio will be met with serious resistance,” the group warned.
