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When Emotions Overshadow Facts: A Clarion Call for National Reasoning

By Prof. Mgbeke

In light of the recent public discourse surrounding the ongoing conflict between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti, it has become imperative to address the growing wave of emotionally charged narratives being weaponized to distort facts and manipulate public perception.

Let it be stated without ambiguity: Intelligence and passion, while admirable, are no substitutes for verified facts and legal truth. Many well-meaning Nigerians have unknowingly fallen into the trap of reacting to unverified claims, fueled by social media outrage and emotive storytelling. The current pressure on Senate President Akpabio to resign is not only legally unfounded, but also appears to be rooted in a series of misleading, inaccurate, or completely unsubstantiated allegations.

We must pause and ask the hard questions: Are these accusations rooted in verifiable evidence? Or are they part of a calculated strategy to provoke public sympathy and incite outrage through emotional manipulation?

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If we are referring to the same Senator Natasha who publicly claimed to have mobilized individuals to disrupt a constitutionally recognized Senate committee hearing, then her allegations of victimization must be scrutinized with the same intensity. Disrupting lawful proceedings while claiming to be a victim of institutional bias is not only contradictory—it undermines the very system of justice she purports to defend.

We must not confuse public sympathy with legal credibility.

To date, Senator Godswill Akpabio has neither been indicted nor found culpable by any court of law or credible investigative agency. He, therefore, has no legal, moral, or constitutional obligation to step down. Demanding such, based solely on viral media narratives and sensationalist rhetoric, is unjust and dangerous to our democratic norms.

Yes, Nigerians are angry. The economic hardship is real, and the frustration is deeply felt. But we must be cautious not to transfer that anger into blind loyalty toward anyone who claims to “oppose the system.” Activism without accountability can become exploitation. Not everyone who wears the garment of activism does so with clean hands. Manipulating public emotions in a time of national distress is not justice—it is deception.

This is not a defense of perfection. No leader is beyond scrutiny, and not all of Senator Akpabio’s actions may be universally applauded. But demonizing a man based on emotionally driven, one-sided narratives is reckless and unjust. Likewise, Senator Natasha is not above the law. If she has made criminal allegations, she must be ready and willing to prove them—comprehensively, both in the court of law and before the court of public conscience.

We must not allow a dangerous precedent where politically motivated claims, amplified by media sensationalism, override the rigorous processes of justice and due process.

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The Nigerian Senate is a constitutionally protected institution. To erode its credibility based on unverified social narratives is to weaken one of the last standing bulwarks of democratic accountability. It is a slippery slope we must not tread.

In this digital age, public opinion can be swayed in seconds, but truth takes time, evidence, and legal scrutiny. Let us not destroy institutions based on hashtags and trending topics. Let us insist on facts, not feelings. On truth, not theatrics. On justice, not jealousy.

A time has come when Nigerians must begin to ask more from our political gladiators and their loyalists. Accountability must be holistic—not selective. If we applaud disruption on Monday, we must also accept the consequences on Friday. If we hail one senator for bravery, we must also question their motives when inconsistencies surface.

In the coming days, a comprehensive exposé will be released under the title: “The Senator Akpabio & Senator Natasha You Don’t Know.” It is time the nation heard the full story—beyond the headlines, beyond the interviews, and certainly beyond the media frenzy.

Let us return to reason. Let us return to truth. And above all, let us uphold the rule of law over the reign of sentiment.

May LIE-TASHA never happen to you or your household.

In light of the recent public discourse surrounding the ongoing conflict between Senator Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti, it has become imperative to address the growing wave of emotionally charged narratives that are being weaponized to distort facts and manipulate public perception.

We must be clear: Intelligence and passion, while admirable, are no substitutes for verified facts and legal truth. A number of well-meaning Nigerians have fallen into the trap of reacting to claims they neither fully understand nor have the privilege of verifying. The current pressure on the Senate President to step down is not only legally unfounded but appears to be based on misleading, inaccurate, or completely unsubstantiated allegations.

Let us ask the hard questions: Are these accusations rooted in verifiable evidence? Or are they part of a calculated move to provoke public outrage and sympathy through emotional manipulation?

If we are speaking of the same Senator Natasha who CLAIMED that she mobilized individuals to disrupt a constitutionally recognized committee hearing, then her claims of victimization warrant serious scrutiny. Disrupting lawful proceedings while simultaneously crying foul as if she’s being victimized is not only disingenuous but also undermines the very justice system she claims to seek refuge in.

We must not confuse public sympathy with legal credibility.

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has neither been indicted nor found culpable by any competent court or investigative body. Therefore, he has no legal, moral, or constitutional obligation to step down. Demanding that he do so is based solely on media narratives and emotional rhetoric, which is not only unjust but dangerous to our democratic values.

Yes, Nigerians are angry. The economic hardship is real, and the frustration is valid. But we must be cautious not to turn that pain into blind loyalty to anyone who claims to “oppose the system.” Not everyone who wears the garment of activism does so with clean hands. Manipulating public emotions in a time of national distress is not activism, it is exploitation.

This is not a defense of perfection. No leader is above critique, and not all of Senator Akpabio’s decisions may sit well with everyone. But let us not demonize a man based on one-sided narratives, especially not from someone whose actions are far from saintly. Senator Natasha is not above the law or scrutiny. She MUST PROVE ALL HER ALLEGATIONS, both criminal and civil!

We will soon unveil “THE SENATOR AKPABIO & SENATOR NATASHA YOU DON’T KNOW.” The nation deserves to hear the full story beyond the headlines, beyond the staged interviews, and beyond the media frenzy.

Let us return to reason. Let us seek truth. And above all, let us uphold the principles of justice, not trial by media.

May LIE-TASHA not happen to you and your household!

Prof. Mgbeke