Report that President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio shared $30,000 to each Senator to get them queued behind the emergency rule President Bola Tinubu slammed on Rivers State has drawn his reaction.
On Thursday the Senate like its House of Representatives counterpart controversially approved the President’s proclamation.
Report in some quarters later emerged that some Senators on the eve of the session were hosted to an Iftar(sunset meal Muslims take during Ramadan) by Akpabio.
The latter it was reported, used the occasion to share out the said sum to each Senator in attendance to get their buy-in for the emergency rule proclamation.
Reacting to the charge through his special adviser on media and publicity, Honourable Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said: “My attention has been drawn to a story in circulation credited to a Press Release I issued. For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state thus:
“That, I have not and never issued any Press Release in relation to the IFTAR (breaking of fast) hosted by His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio GCON.
“That, it is true, a newspaper correspondent called me on the phone to confirm or disclaim to the rumour of sharing Dollars during the breaking of the fast.
“That it is true that I confirmed the IFTAR meeting and further asserted that the Distinguished Senate President has always hosted his colleagues of both religious faiths in every season of spiritual rebirth.
“That, there has never existed any reason to share any money in such a solemn meeting and no money in any currency was shared. I have vehemently denied this spurious rumour of sharing any money.
“The rumour in itself is peddled by the merchants of blackmail enterprise to add flavour to their subsisting hate and malice campaign.
“This is to correct every record and clarify every misinformation arising therefrom.”
