Timi Frank Slams Akpabio Over Comments on Rivers State Governor, Labels Him Unfit to Judge Character

ABUJA/Nigeria: Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his remarks about the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara. Frank described Akpabio as the least qualified to assess Fubara’s character, citing the Senate President’s own controversial political history.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Frank responded to Akpabio’s recent comments during a public lecture and book launch in Port Harcourt, where he accused Governor Fubara of “treachery and betrayal” against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Frank dismissed the allegations, asserting that Akpabio lacks the moral standing to judge Fubara.

“The man who spoke is a known betrayer, defending another betrayer. Akpabio and Wike are cut from the same cloth. Both have betrayed their parties and their principles for personal gain, and such people are unqualified to label a more responsible man a betrayer,” Frank stated.

He further criticized Akpabio’s political record, accusing him of hypocrisy and opportunism. “Akpabio has betrayal in his DNA, just like Wike. Both men have condemned the APC in the past, only to turn around and embrace it when it suited their interests. Akpabio has become Wike’s mouthpiece, a clear sign of their shared opportunistic tendencies,” Frank said.

Highlighting Akpabio’s history in the Senate, Frank accused him of undermining traditions for personal gain. “When Akpabio was elected to the Senate in 2015 under the PDP, he usurped the minority leader position from Senator James Manager, despite being a rookie legislator. He later betrayed the PDP by defecting to the APC while serving as the minority leader,” Frank remarked.

Frank also took aim at Wike, accusing the former Rivers State governor of sabotaging the PDP. “Wike orchestrated the PDP’s defeat in 2023 alongside four other governors and continues to frustrate efforts to rebuild the party, all while serving as a PDP member in an APC-led administration. His track record in betrayal speaks for itself,” he added.

According to Frank, Akpabio’s hostility towards Governor Fubara stems from the latter’s refusal to serve external interests at the expense of Rivers State. “Fubara is fighting to liberate Rivers State from Wike’s oppressive stranglehold, unlike Akpabio, who has turned the 10th Senate into a mere rubber stamp for the executive,” Frank asserted.

Frank urged Governor Fubara to remain focused on his mandate, noting his recent legal victory at the Appeal Court, which restored monthly allocations to Rivers State. “Governor Fubara should not be distracted by Akpabio’s baseless accusations. The end will justify the means, and God will grant him victory over his political opponents,” Frank said.

He called on the public to disregard Akpabio’s claims, emphasizing that the priority should remain on addressing the pressing needs of the people of Rivers State. Frank also described Akpabio’s political approach as “where belle face,” a term implying opportunism driven by self-interest.