From Fred Itua, Abuja
Leaders of a leading sociopolitical group, Citizens Network for Peace and Development (CNPDN), at the weekend, vowed to resist any sinister plan by some faceless and disgruntled senators to commence any impeachment moves against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
A media report on Saturday, quoted some unnamed sources of plans by some senators to impeach Akpabio. The media report claimed that some senators had already met in Saudi Arabia to conclude the moves.
However, the report failed to name any lawmaker involved in the sinister moves. Instead, it relied heavily on sources.
Secretary of the prominent South South group, Francis Okereke Wainwei, in a statement made available to newsmen, explained why no serious Nigerian should take the threats seriously.
He said in the last 10 years, no Senate President has spread the chairmanship of standing committees like Akpabio.
Wainwei explained that opposition members, as well as senators elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) got ‘juicy’ committees.
The pro-South South group said the senators pushing the narrative have a bigger plan to destabilise the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by causing unnecessary tension in the National Assembly.
The Bayelsa-born rights activist further challenged the purveyors of the purported impeachment moves to a show their faces and be ready to accept the dire consequences.
The statement read: “We woke to a funny story on Saturday morning about a purported plan by some unnamed senators to impeach Akpabio. Such stories can be ignored. But because we live in a society where some people take jokes too far, we’ve to immediately stop them.
“Before those unnamed senators take their jokes too far, we need to remind them that we won’t fold our hands and watch them. We’ll resist any attempt or move by anyone.
“We know the antecedents of these people and we know that they’re actually targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Once they weaken the National Assembly, they’ll go after President Tinubu. We won’t allow them.
“If you couldn’t win elections through the ballots, you can’t also take over power through the backdoor. Akpabio will remain the President of the 10th Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly.
“No Senate President has ever done what Akpabio has done in a few months. If not for mischief, why are they in a hurry to disturb Akpabio? The South South supported these same people when they were in power.
“Why will want to sabotage Akpabio who is the highest political officer holder from the South South which is the economic stay power of the country.
“For the interest peace, we call on those jokers to leave Akpabio alone and allow him focus on the task of rebuilding Nigeria with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Rebuilding Nigeria is a task for everyone. If you can stand the heat, we urge you to exit the kitchen and allow those who mean well for Nigeria to do the right thing.”