The Senate president, Godwill Akpabio, has mocked individuals who will be participating in the August 1st hunger protest in the country, which is scheduled to start on Thursday.
The Senate president, in a comment during his interaction with the delegates of the Niger Delta Development Commission in Rivers State on Wednesday, stated, “Those who want to protest can protest, but let us be there eating” he said.
The senate president went further to thank individuals from the Niger Delta region for remaining calm despite the numerous impacts the oil exploration has brought upon the residents.
Giving hope to the residents, the senate president noted that the national assembly was aware of the damage and would bring up policies to alleviate the people’s suffering and reduce the oil spillage and the environmental challenges.
He encouraged the delegates to present a communique after the discussion to fast-track decisions and bring up policies regarding the discussions; the senate president noted that the issues that require a huge amount of money will be forwarded to the president, one that needs intervention will be sent to the table of the NDDC. In contrast, the Senate will work on the legislative issues.
“The ones that need legislation will come to us, the ones that need intervention will go to NDDC, the ones that need more money will go to the president and commander-in-chief and I assure you that those issues will be addressed,” he said
Earlier, the senate president called for an emergency plenary, which was suspected of discussing the planned hunger protest; the plenary was scheduled for Wednesday, July 31st 2024.
The letter sighted by the press reads, “Dear Distinguished Senators, the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has directed that an emergency plenary sitting of the Senate be convened as follows: Date: WEDNESDAY, JULY 31st, 2024; TIME: 12 NOON.”
