News
News Commentary: Senator Godswill Akpabio ” Kpai in London”, Another Fake News
With these kind of satanic rumours and fake news, how can someone argue against the regulation of the social media to prevent the anguish these cousins of the devils bring to people and their families through peddling and sharing fake news.
•Senator Godswill Akpabio
By Anietie Ekong
Over the weekend the internet was abuzz with the “news” that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio had suddenly collapsed, rushed in an air ambulance and flown to London where he was admitted into the intensive care unit of an unnamed London hospital.
They claimed he was battling for his life in London.
Those who peddled this rumour and obviously fake news could swear that they saw when the Senate President allegedly collapsed while others said they heard it from their “sources” in London.
Indeed the rumours about Akpabio’s health status has become a periodic pastime and an industry of its own.
Two years ago, immediately after a colloquium at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, with President Bola Tinubu in attendance, to mark his 61st birthday, the same rumour mill took over: Senator Akpabio had collapsed and was rushed to London.
The following day, it became like a miracle that the same man they claimed was receiving treatment in London, showed up and met with the Senate Press Corps. The rumour died down, albeit temporarily.
Few months back the same narrative was reinvented by people whose only job is being authority of fake news concerning the health status of Senator Akpabio. Again they said he was hospitalzed in London.
Live videos with fellow Senators could not convince the doubting Thomases that Senator Akpabio was hale and hearty until his return to Nigeria few days later.Then the last weekend episode.
The peddlers of these fake news are not even creative. Same story, same narrative: Akpabio had collapsed and was rushed to the hospital in London. How many times does Akpabio have to collapse and rushed to London in a year?
As with everything Akpabio, bloggers jumped into the fray to drive traffic to their social media pages, and earn some dollars in the process.
When the “news” first filtered in, I wondered who they were talking about. Was it the same Godswill Akpabio, my boss, whom I had had a long chat with on Friday night cum Saturday morning or was it someone else? Was he chatting with me from the intensive care unit of the London hospital?
The most dangerous of these fake news carriers are those who repost the “news” with their fake sympathy: “Pray for Akpabio”, “I wish him quick recovery,” “Nothing must happen to Akpabio.” “May God heal him.”
In the voice of Chief Nyesom Wike: fake, fake, fake.
As with everything Akpabio, bloggers jumped into the fray to drive traffic to their social media pages, and earn some dollars in the process.
They did live videos and one even said Akpabio had “kpai” in London.
I had only one word for Journalists who reached out to me to “confirm” this story: don’t take my denial for it, wait till Tuesday and see who would preside over the Senate plenary.
Then on the first legislative sitting day of the week, the same man they claimed was battling for his life in an intensive care unit of a hospital showed up and presided over an extended plenary that lasted well into the evening, where major decisions were taken by the Senate without showing any signs of distress.
With these kind of satanic rumours and fake news, how can someone argue against the regulation of the social media to prevent the anguish these cousins of the devils bring to people and their families through peddling and sharing fake news.
The fake news carriers never said never. As early as tomorrow they can cook another one again.We wait till the next episode.
News
BudgIT appoints Nigeria Country Director
He brought with him a track record in governance, research, and institutional leadership.
BudgIT has appointed Mr. Vahyala Kwaga as Country Director for Nigeria.
The appointment took effect on April 1, 2026.Kwaga was appointed following a leadership transition within the civic-tech organisation.
He brought with him a track record in governance, research, and institutional leadership.
Since joining BudgIT in 2021, Kwaga has held several leadership roles, including Senior Researcher, Head of the Open Government and Institutional Partnerships (OGIP) Unit, Group Head of Research and OGIP, and Deputy Country Director.
In these positions, he contributed to strengthening BudgIT’s research output, deepening its policy engagement, and improving coordination across programmes.
News
Kebbi Assembly Speaker Muhammad Usman Zuru dies in Egypt
The deceased Speaker, who represented Zuru Constituency, was widely regarded as a seasoned lawmaker and a key figure in the state’s legislative arm.
The Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Usman Zuru, has died in an Egyptian hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Zuru died on Monday night after a period of ill health. Sources close to the Kebbi State Government confirmed his death, though details about the nature of his illness remain limited.
The deceased Speaker, who represented Zuru Constituency, was widely regarded as a seasoned lawmaker and a key figure in the state’s legislative arm.
An aide to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Idris Zuru, described the news as shocking.
“The death of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Usman Zuru, came to us as a rude shock. It is a painful loss not only to Kebbi State but to the entire nation,” he said.
“We are still gathering full information surrounding his passing. The government will make an official statement and announce burial arrangements in consultation with the family,” Idris Zuru stated.
The Benue State Government has confirmed the successful evacuation of all students of Benue State origin studying at the University of Jos following the crisis currently affecting the area.
The evacuation was carried out in line with the directive of the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Reverend Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
The General Manager of Benue Links Nigeria Limited, Comrade Alexander Aondohemba Fanafa said the third and final batch of student evacuees arrived at the company’s headquarters and bus terminal in Makurdi, Benue State on Saturday the 4th of April.Comrade Fanafa explained that a total of seventy-seven (77) vehicles were deployed in three batches to convey the students safely from Jos, the Plateau State capital.
He attributed the success of the operation to the proactive leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the effective collaboration among government agencies, including the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management and the Bureau of Homeland Security.
The General Manager also expressed appreciation to the security operatives who escorted the students from Jos, commending their professionalism in ensuring the safety of the students throughout the journey.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to implementing all transport policies of the Governor Alia administration.Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Doctor. Margaret Adamu, described the exercise as a clear demonstration of the Governor’s commitment to the safety and welfare of Benue indigenes.
She noted that the evacuation directive was issued immediately upon receiving reports of the crisis, emphasizing that the administration places a high premium on education and the well-being of students.
Earlier, the Director General of the Bureau of Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (rtd.), stated that the success of the operation was made possible through swift coordination between security agencies and the State owned transport company, enabling the rapid deployment of buses and security escorts.
He reassured citizens that the administration remains vigilant and committed to protecting the lives and interests of Benue people both within and outside the state.
In their separate appreciation messages, the President of the University of Jos Chapter of the National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS), Mchivga Iornder, and the National President of the Benue State Medical and Dental Students Association, Williams Kachira, commended Governor Alia for the prompt intervention and confirmed that all Benue students at the University of Jos have been successfully evacuated.
A statement its Information Officer Johnson Ehi Daniel revealed that Benue Links Nigeria Limited also provided additional vehicles to convey some of the students from Makurdi to their respective Local Government Areas across the state.
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