Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said he no longer watches television, alleging that his comments are frequently misrepresented by the media.
Akpabio made the remark on Friday during the inauguration of access roads in Karsana, Abuja, while addressing controversy surrounding his recent comments on infrastructure projects under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“I have stopped watching television because most of the things they say are not what I said,” Akpabio said.
“You were there on that day, and they misrepresented what I said. I’m used to it. What I said was about the Federal Capital Territory.”
The Senate President explained that his earlier remarks specifically referred to the number of projects being commissioned in the Federal Capital Territory by President Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
“I still repeat myself: I’ve never seen where a president and a minister of the Federal Capital Territory will commission projects anniversary by anniversary; up to 31 projects in the third year anniversary,” he said.
“He (Wike) has whispered to me that before the commencement of elections in January next year, 19 more projects of high quality will be added for commissioning. So, let the people stop misquoting me.”
Akpabio added that although his comments focused on the FCT, he could also point to major infrastructure projects across the country.
“I was talking about the Federal Capital Territory; if I were to talk about states of the federation in general, I’ll still be right,” he said.
He cited ongoing infrastructure projects nationwide, including major road construction and agricultural initiatives.
“I can mention the fact that from Badagry to Sokoto, major infrastructure is being done today by this administration and that stretch alone has 74 dams which will revolutionise agriculture in the northern region,” he said.
“I can also mention the coastal road that the people of Niger Delta dreamt of for the past hundred years. But today, it has become a reality.”
Akpabio also commended the completion of a long-abandoned project at the headquarters of the Nigeria Revenue Service, formerly known as the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
“The other day we were in former FIRS, now NRS; we commissioned a project, I was shocked,” he said.
“I had seen that building right from when I was a commissioner in 2002. But under this administration, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has completed that place.”
He further noted that infrastructure development is now extending to satellite communities within the FCT.
“FCT is not born today, but the satellite towns are now feeling the impact — the impact of governance — everywhere,” he said.
“Look at this road that we are about to commission; I used to hear of Karsana village, but now it has become Karsana city. It is easy to sit on television and talk and comment.”