The Arewa Revival Project has dismissed as fabricated a viral social-media post attributing an alleged anti-Northern statement to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio.
The group described the purported statement “We will make sure Northerners suffer from January to May if Tinubu loses the election” as false, misleading and politically irresponsible.
In a statement signed by its Project Coordinator, Hon. Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, the Arewa Revival Project said there was no credible evidence establishing that Akpabio made the statement, urging Nigerians, particularly those in Northern Nigeria, not to allow an unattributed social-media graphic to create tension between the regions.
The group said a photograph of a public official accompanied by quotation marks could not, on its own, constitute evidence that the person made the statement attributed to him.
It challenged those circulating the graphic to produce the full video recording, date, venue, complete speech or authentic transcript from which the alleged quotation was obtained.
Until such evidence is provided, the group said, Nigerians should regard the claim as an unverified political allegation rather than an established statement by the Senate President.
The Arewa Revival Project also recalled that the Office of the President of the Senate had, in an earlier controversy, denied viral allegations portraying Akpabio as making anti-Northern or threatening remarks, describing such claims as false and malicious.
According to the group, available public statements by Akpabio have instead reflected calls for national unity and peaceful political engagement.
It cited a statement reportedly made by the Senate President in June 2026, in which he warned Nigerians against allowing political differences to undermine the country, stressing that elections would come and go while Nigeria would remain.
The group also commended Akpabio for what it described as his continued efforts to promote cooperation between the Executive and Legislative arms of government, as well as his advocacy of policies and legislation aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.
It said the Senate President’s political activities had also transcended regional boundaries, noting his engagements with political stakeholders across the country and his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The Arewa Revival Project expressed concern that the circulation of an unverified graphic could be used to fuel ethnic and regional suspicion, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It urged Northern Nigerians to scrutinise politically sensitive information before sharing it, asking them to establish where and when an alleged statement was made, whether a complete video exists, who originally recorded or published it and whether credible media organisations have independently verified the claim.
The group said political disagreement remained legitimate in a democracy, but deliberately manufactured ethnic and regional hostility posed a danger to Nigeria’s democratic development.
It pledged continued support for peaceful political participation, voter education, national unity and constructive engagement between Northern and Southern Nigeria.
The Arewa Revival Project therefore called on Nigerians to disregard the viral quotation unless credible evidence emerges to authenticate it.
It further urged Akpabio and other national leaders to continue promoting the spirit of One Nigeria, stressing that political competition should not become a source of ethnic suspicion or regional hatred.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us. The North belongs in Nigeria, the South belongs in Nigeria, and together we must protect the unity and democratic future of our country,” the group said.
