Allegations of Sexual Harassment against Akpabio Inconsistent with His Character, Says Long time Friend
Long time friend and classmate of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio for over 50 years, Charles Preye Zuofa has dismissed the sexual harassment allegation against his friend as untrue and inconsistent with his character.
Zuofa who debunked the possibility of Akpabio indulging in such act as not feasible further described it as “strange” to his own personal experience of the Senate President.
He went down memory lane in their relationship beginning at the Federal Government College (FGC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and recalled that Akpabio was a clever and humorous student, who was renowned for his stand-up comedy and was known by his friends as “Gody A.”.
The former classmate specifically addressed the allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who claimed that Akpabio made improper comments about her during a guided tour of his residence in Uyo.
Zuofa revealed that he was present at the tour and did not witness any such incident. He also questioned the timing of the allegations, noting that they were made after Akpabio had taken certain actions that were adverse to the interests of the accusers.
Zuofa also referenced the earlier allegations made by Joy Nunieh, a former Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who claimed that Akpabio had harassed her after she rebuffed his advances. However, Zuofa pointed out that these allegations were made after Nunieh’s removal from her position, which was due to issues with her NYSC certificate, and not as a result of any alleged harassment.
The defense of Akpabio by his former classmate has sparked a heated debate, with some hailing Zuofa’s bravery in speaking out, while others have questioned his motives and credibility.
As the controversy continues to unfold, one thing is certain – the allegations against Akpabio has sparked a national conversation about sexual harassment and the need for accountability in positions of power.
