Chief Nse Ntuen, a respected Akwa Ibom elder and former state lawmaker, has come to the defence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, dismissing recent allegations made against him as “baseless, malicious and steeped in personal bitterness.”
Ntuen, who has known Akpabio for over 50 years, said in a statement on Sunday that the claims made by Akpabio’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio, were “completely false and inconsistent with the Senate President’s character and public record.”
He stated emphatically that “Akpabio is not a killer.”
Describing the accusations as “a conscious attempt to erode the dignity of honest leadership,” Ntuen warned that such falsehoods threaten to “replace dialogue and truth with reckless mischief.”
Aligning himself with the Greater Akpabio family, which recently reaffirmed its unity and confidence in the Senate President, Ntuen said the issue had been “settled firmly” and urged the public to ignore distractions.
He said, “At a time when the Senate President is working with President Bola Tinubu to shape economic recovery, it is disappointing that anyone would try to divert attention with malicious fiction.”
Praising Akpabio’s composure, Ntuen said his calm response amid provocation was “a mark of personal strength and political maturity.”
“Leadership is not theatre; it is service,” he added. “Senator Akpabio’s calm disposition and tireless work at the helm of the 10th Senate have continued to produce tangible results for Nigeria.”
Calling for unity among Akwa Ibom people, Ntuen urged citizens to shun gossip and focus on progress.
“We stand with our leader, our brother, and our pride,” he declared. “Those who traffic in falsehood will find that truth is patient but enduring.”
