Senate President Godswill Akpabio has disowned a viral social media post attributed to him that appeared to mock United States President Donald Trump over his recent comments about alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio described the circulating post as “completely fabricated, malicious, and reckless.”
The post, published by a social media platform identified as Rant HQ, claimed that Akpabio had said:
“The killing is taking place in Nigeria, not in the USA. Trump should focus on the U.S. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings; we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria.”
The purported statement quickly went viral, sparking public outrage and debates amid heightened diplomatic tensions following Trump’s warning that the United States could take military action against Nigeria over alleged religious persecution.
Eyiboh, however, dismissed the claim as entirely false.
“The post is a total falsehood, a product of mischief, and a desperate attempt to incite misunderstanding between Senator Godswill Akpabio and U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as between Nigeria and its international partners,” he said.
He added that the photo attached to the post, which showed Akpabio at an unrelated official event, was “deceptively used to lend false credibility to a fabricated statement that was never made.”
According to Eyiboh, Akpabio remains a statesman committed to diplomacy, mutual respect, and international cooperation.
“He holds President Donald Trump in high esteem as a historic figure and leader of a great nation,” he noted.
The Senate President’s media office stressed that Akpabio would never comment on internal affairs of the United States or make statements that fall within the purview of Nigeria’s executive arm or foreign policy establishment.
“The viral post is a clear act of digital recklessness and a deliberate attempt to sow confusion, tarnish reputations, and inflame diplomatic tensions,” Eyiboh added.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the false report and warned purveyors of misinformation to stop spreading unverified claims for online engagement.
“Freedom of expression is not freedom to lie,” he cautioned.
The rebuttal follows Trump’s recent remarks on his Truth Social platform, where he threatened possible U.S military intervention in Nigeria, claiming his administration “may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists.”
Trump’s comments, which came after he listed Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious persecution, have drawn mixed reactions globally.
Akpabio’s office reiterated that the Senate remains focused on its legislative duties and on strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“The Office of the President of the Senate remains committed to transparency, truth, and responsible communication, both at home and internationally,” the statement concluded.
