Senate President Godswill Akpabio has alleged that some people criticising President Bola Tinubu and his supporters on social media are being paid to attack them.
Drivetvnews gathered that he urged northern youths to intensify grassroots mobilisation in support of Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Akpabio made the remarks on Wednesday when members of the Arewa Revival Project, a northern youth group led by its coordinator, Mustafa Ibrahim, visited him in his office.
The group, whose members come from the 19 northern states, presented an award to the Senate President in recognition of his contributions to national development.
While appreciating the honour, Akpabio encouraged the group to mobilise support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition, saying Nigerians needed to understand the benefits of continuity in government.
He acknowledged that countering criticism on social media would not be easy, alleging that some people attacking the President and his supporters were receiving payment for doing so.
“It is not going to be easy for you because most of those who are attacking the President and attacking these young men on social media are being paid. You are not being paid,” he said.
The Senate President advised the youths to organise regular meetings and engage people at the grassroots to counter what he described as propaganda against the administration.
“You may not be able to have the kind of energy and time with them. But once in a while, gather the youth together and let them see the truth and know the truth,” he added.
Akpabio also defended Tinubu’s economic policies, including the tax reforms, arguing that the administration was working to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil.
According to him, the President has introduced reforms intended to diversify the economy and replace outdated laws.
“I expect the Nigerian youth to rise above social media propaganda because this President has managed to take us out of a mono-economy, an economy that was dependent only on crude oil,” Akpabio said.
He praised the administration’s performance and disclosed that members of the National Assembly had endorsed Tinubu for a second term.
“No President has achieved the level of development that he has done in this country today since independence,” he said, adding that lawmakers were proud to give the President a pass mark.
On security, Akpabio expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome its challenges, saying the proposed establishment of state police could strengthen the country’s security system.
He claimed that about 30 state Houses of Assembly had endorsed the constitutional amendment needed to establish state police. He also predicted that decentralised policing could become a reality within a month.
“As I speak with you now, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, it may not take us a month before we have a state police system — decentralised policing in the country,” he said.
Akpabio maintained that decentralised policing would improve security and urged the youths to remain confident as they mobilised support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
Earlier, Ibrahim said the group honoured Akpabio in recognition of his contributions to national development and the achievements of the National Assembly under his leadership.
