A statement attributed to Godswill Akpabio, the Nigerian Senate President, has been widely circulated on social media. It is alleged that in response to the #EndBadGovernance protest, Akpabio said, “You can protest, but we will be eating.”
Currently, there is an ongoing protest in Nigeria, where various groups have come together to organise a 10-day demonstration that began on August 1, 2024. This protest has faced significant resistance from the government and its officials.
Verification and Context
The CDD War Room conducted a reverse image search and discovered that the video in question is from a Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Executive Management Engagement with Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders and Selected Stakeholders held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. This event brought together stakeholders from the Niger Delta region to discuss its advancement. During the event, these stakeholders addressed the planned protest, asserting that there is no place for such demonstrations in the Niger Delta and urging the region’s youth to boycott the protest.
Notably present at the event was Godswill Akpabio, who is not only the Senate President but also a former Minister of the Niger Delta and former Governor of Akwa Ibom. Akpabio praised the stakeholders for distancing themselves from the protest and supported a speaker’s remark that the protest’s demands did not concern the Niger Delta.
Akpabio emphasised that Nigeria was “living on life-support” before Tinubu became president. He also highlighted that the Niger Delta had not had a Senate President in 45 years. The Senate President questioned whether it was the right time for strife and protests now that someone from their region holds the position.
In concluding his speech, Akpabio detailed various projects the government is implementing in the Niger Delta and stressed that this is a time to enjoy the benefits of democracy rather than protest. He echoed the sentiment of a stakeholder who said, “We are not interested in regime change,” adding that while others might protest, “we will be here eating.”
Verdict: TRUE
The CDD War Room can confirm that the Senate President made the statement. Angry protesters and activists have condemned the statement, describing it as a mockery of their demands to #Endbadgovernance.