After receiving backlash from Nigerians for his caustic “let the poor breathe” joke at Tuesday’s plenary session, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio has explained his motivations.
On the Senate floor, Akpabio jokedly delivered the motion of Senator Akintunde Abiodun, of Oyo State, to prevent the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and distribution firms (DisCos) from increasing electricity rates.
In a statement dated July 27 and published on Friday, the Senate President responded to the complaints by saying he did not intend to offend the public and that he understood the difficulties caused by the high cost of living.
He explained that he had meant to “firmly reject any plan of increasing electricity tariffs for Nigerians,” given the country’s current economic situation.
In addition, “We are deeply concerned about the negative tilting of a very harmless statement by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, about his deep concern and that of the Senate on the plight of the ordinary Nigerians as a result of the prevailing economic situation in the country,” the
statement said.
When discussing a motion to block an increase in electricity rates, Senator Akintunde Abiodun said, “Let the people breathe,” at the Plenary on July 26, 2023.
Akpabio assured Nigerians that the country’s higher legislative arm cannot handle critical concerns with trivialities and stated that lawmakers cannot make a mockery of the challenges facing the people.
We want to inform the public that the President of the Senate and his Distinguished colleagues take seriously any matters brought up during Senate sessions,” the statement continues.
It’s important to be clear that neither the person who introduced the motion nor the President of the Senate intended to trivialize the pain and economic difficulties that Nigerians are experiencing right now.
Given Nigeria’s current economic situation, the proposal’s stated goal was to categorically rule out any suggestion to raise energy prices for the country’s residents.
The present National Assembly, led by Senator Akpabio, is committed to enacting well-thought-out measures that will improve people’s lives. He has promised Nigerians over and over that the current Senate will be fair to everyone.
The President of the Senate has great sympathy for the people of Nigeria and has never joked about the country’s economic woes.
We have high hopes that the newly appointed officials will swiftly address the challenges and bring the much-needed relief and succor to all citizens, thereby easing the current hardship and pains being experienced by Nigerians, following the release of the ministerial list and the subsequent screening and swearing-in of the ministers.
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