- The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio urged Nigerians to prioritise their love for the country over money
- He said this while speaking on a motion to address the exodus of professionals from the country
- Nigerians reacted, many told him to practice what he preaches and stop gaslighting Nigerians
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has urged Nigerians to prioritise their love for the country over migrating abroad to seek greener pastures.
Akpabio expressed concern over the continuous migration of experts in various fields and said it would be better if professionals stayed back in the country.
The Senate President made this statement during plenary on Tuesday while speaking on a motion to address the mass migration of Nigerians to other countries.
According to The Cable, He said: “The country is losing its expertise. If they acquired those expertise and returned to Nigeria, it would have been better,” he said while commenting on a motion seeking to address mass immigration of Nigerians.
“I also think the conditions of service are quite responsible. I believe people should place love for their country above financial gains.
“That is why many of us choose to remain here. “The brain drain is a big problem, not just in the educational sector, particularly in the health sector – it is affecting us a lot.
“The greatest professionals in medicine in the USA, from what I read, some people say we have almost 22,000 health workers in there (US) who are Nigerians and they are doing extremely well. I have seen that from different reports.
“In the educational sector, the disadvantages are too numerous because some of the departments do not have even up to 50 per cent staff strength. So what then are you teaching our children? It’s like a computer, garbage in and garbage out.”
Recall that the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa also pleaded with Nigerians to stop migrating to countries worse than Nigeria.
Nigerians react to Akpabio’s statement
Many Nigerians expressed anger at the Senate President’s statement, asking him and his fellow politicians to practice what they preach. Some netizens claimed Akpabio and other leaders keep gaslighting Nigerians by advising them to be righteous while they (the leaders) siphon public funds. A few Nigerians asked Akpabio and his fellow lawmakers to sacrifice their wealth for Nigerians to show their love for their country.
Here are some of the comments:
@jidifeanyi posted: “Says one of the biggest looters in the history of Nigeria. If not for corruption he wouldn't have returned to the Senate.”
@OfficiaEdoOsasB posted: “You politicians refused to practice what you preach.”
@Shile_matrix posted: “Shey na this kobo kobo wey Nigerians dey see him dey talk about abi the billions politicians are packing 🥺”
@IziGab1 posted: “Well the politicians including Akpabio should live by example as it concerns this caption.”
@dera_theking posted: “They enjoy mocking us.”
@iszzyiniho1 posted: “Coming from $omeone who's getting paid furniture allow@nce, travel allow@nce, vehicle allowance, and let's not even talk about the huge $alary—it’s easy for them to talk this rubb!sh. 😭😭😭😭”
@TechiePolitical posted: “Gaslighting of the highest order. Insult upon injury.”
@mind_talkss posted: “He should lead by example and not take salary for the next 6 months.”
@Christo32261543 posted: “These are really mocking Nigerians. Can u imagine what comes out from a whole senate president. Well my blame goes to those blind ones still supporting them.”
@Aliyutsiga posted: “Oya na, senators should give 70% of thier salary and allowances every month for the betterment of the country, that will testify how they love the country. I believe 30% can sustain them.”
@castiglioneII posted: “If the politicians should place the love for the country over monetary gain, Nigeria will be miles ahead of many developed countries.”
@RossiLagus posted: “Let the legislators show example by ensure that salaries and allowances fall within the Nigerian civil service structure. Stop collecting constituency project money. All cars purchased must be refunded. They shd use their personal cars. Let them first live the sacrificial lives.”
@sunky004 posted: “ALLEGEDLY, this same person got big suv and salary comes in monthly with no stress 🤡🤡🤡 the elders i grew up knowing were wise.”
@yinkadlb575 posted: “Just as you have done in your political space and still have cases to answer to EFCC for financial mismanagement of your State resources and NDDC, which you handled unprofessionally and unethically.”
Nigerians react as Akpabio apologises to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over 'night club' comment
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Nigeria's Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, apologised to the Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan over the “nightclub” comment he made during plenary on July 19.
Senator Akpabio had told the senator representing Kogi Central that she was not in a nightclub and had to be recognised before she could speak.