Senate President Godswill Akpabio has alleged that individuals criticising President Bola Tinubu and his supporters on social media are being paid to carry out the attacks, although he provided no evidence to substantiate the allegation.
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Akpabio made the claim on Wednesday when members of the Arewa Revival Project, a northern youth group led by its coordinator, Mustafa Ibrahim, visited him at his office.
The group, whose members are drawn from the 19 northern states, presented an award to the Senate President in recognition of his contributions to nation-building.
While appreciating the recognition, Akpabio urged the group to intensify grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, maintaining that Nigerians needed to understand the benefits of continuity in government.
He warned that the youths could face difficulties countering criticism of the President on social media, alleging that some of those attacking the administration and its supporters were financially sponsored.
“It is not going to be easy for you because most of those who are attacking the President and attacking these young men on social media are being paid. You are not being paid,” Akpabio said.
However, the Senate President did not identify those allegedly financing the critics, disclose the identities of individuals receiving payments or present evidence linking online criticism of the President to financial inducements.
Akpabio encouraged the youths to organise regular meetings and engage Nigerians at the grassroots to counter what he described as propaganda against the Tinubu administration.
“You may not be able to have the kind of energy and time with them. But once in a while, gather the youth together and let them see the truth and know the truth,” he stated.
The former Akwa Ibom State governor also defended Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the administration’s tax reforms and efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy.
According to him, the President has introduced reforms aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on crude oil and replacing outdated laws.
“I expect the Nigerian youth to rise above social media propaganda because this President has managed to take us out of a mono-economy, an economy that was dependent only on crude oil,” Akpabio said.
He further praised the administration’s performance, claiming that Tinubu had achieved an unprecedented level of development since Nigeria gained independence.
“No President has achieved the level of development that he has done in this country today since independence,” he declared.
Akpabio also disclosed that members of the National Assembly had endorsed Tinubu for a second term, adding that lawmakers were proud to give the President a pass mark.
On national security, the Senate President expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome its security challenges through ongoing reforms, particularly the proposed establishment of state police.
He claimed that approximately 30 State Houses of Assembly had endorsed the constitutional amendment required to introduce state police, expressing confidence that decentralised policing could become a reality within a month.
“As I speak with you now, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, it may not take us a month before we have a state police system, decentralised policing in the country,” he stated.
Akpabio maintained that establishing state police would strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve the country’s capacity to respond to security threats.
He urged members of the Arewa Revival Project to remain committed to mobilising support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
Earlier, the group’s coordinator, Mustafa Ibrahim, explained that the decision to honour Akpabio was based on his contributions to national development and the achievements of the National Assembly under his leadership.
Akpabio’s allegation that critics of Tinubu are being paid remains unsubstantiated, as no supporting evidence was presented during the meeting.
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