Senator Godswill Akpabio,
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to popular social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, demanding he apologise for remarks made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio regarding his trip to the Vatican for the Pope’s funeral.
In a viral video, VeryDarkMan criticised Akpabio, arguing that given the widespread insecurity across Nigeria, the Senate President should have prioritised visiting states like Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Ogun, and Enugu, which have been severely affected by violence, rather than travelling abroad.
According to the influencer, “the Senate President lacked the moral standing to attend the Pope’s funeral when he ought to be consoling communities affected by violence across the country.”
Reacting to the video, the South-South Zonal chapter of the APC condemned VeryDarkMan’s statements and, through a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, demanded an apology within a week.
The party’s warning was conveyed by Blessing Agbomhere, the Zonal Organizing Secretary of the South-South APC.
The statement read: “VeryDarkMan is becoming notorious for blackmail, slander, and character assassination while pretending to be an advocate for the masses and a social crusader.”
“The unwarranted verbal attack on the number three citizen of Nigeria, who did not send himself to Rome but was duly nominated by the President to lead a delegation to represent Nigeria — what exactly is wrong with that?”
The South-South APC defended the government’s approach to insecurity, stating, “Upon his return from France and the UK, Tinubu met with the security chiefs, and during the meeting, he gave them marching orders to ensure that a different approach is deployed in the fight against insecurity.”
“Does this sound like a man who is not serious about protecting the lives and property of Nigerians?”
The party further stressed that “the complex security problems in the country cannot be wished away with a wave of the hand.”
DAILY GAZETTE had earlier reported that Senate President Akpabio was appointed to head a high-profile Nigerian delegation to attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City on Saturday.
This was confirmed through a statement issued Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.
The Nigerian delegation included Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.
Onanuga explained, “The delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the Acting Head of the Vatican.”
President Tinubu had earlier paid tribute to Pope Francis, describing him as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just one day after presiding over Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
In his tribute, President Tinubu reflected that the Pope’s death immediately after the Easter celebration “symbolises a sacred return to his Maker, offering renewed hope to Christians worldwide.”
