By John Umeh
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has come to the defense of Senate President Godswill Akpabio following criticism from social media personality, VeryDarkMan, over his recent trip to attend the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the APC described VeryDarkMan’s comments as “reckless, disrespectful, and uninformed,” insisting that Akpabio’s attendance at the historic funeral was both appropriate and in line with diplomatic traditions.
The party emphasized that the Senate President represented Nigeria at the high-profile global event, which was attended by world leaders, religious figures, and dignitaries. According to the APC, criticizing such an important national representation shows a “lack of understanding of international relations and protocol.”
The party further warned social media influencers against using their platforms to spread misinformation or incite public outrage without a proper grasp of the facts.
“Senate President Akpabio’s presence at the funeral of a respected global figure like Pope Benedict XVI reflects Nigeria’s commitment to global unity and respect for religious diversity,” the APC’s statement read.
VeryDarkMan had earlier taken to social media to question the relevance and timing of Akpabio’s trip, a move that quickly stirred public debate online.
The APC concluded by urging Nigerians to focus on issues that foster national cohesion rather than allow “baseless attacks” to distract from meaningful governance.
