Nigeria’s Senate president says his comments during a debate on suicide prevention were taken out of context after drawing criticism over references to Islamic beliefs about the afterlife.
Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has defended himself against criticism over his remarks about Islam, saying he has been sending people to Mecca to pray for him and Nigeria for the past 25 years.
Akpabio made the statement during plenary on Thursday, insisting that he had no intention of denigrating Islam or its followers.
“I love the Muslim religion. I send people to Mecca to pray for me and to pray for this country, and I do that even up to yesterday, and I have been doing that since the last 25 years,” he said.
His comments followed a backlash over remarks he made on Tuesday during deliberations on the Suicide Prevention Bill 2026, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South.
During the debate, Akpabio said some young people contemplate suicide because “they believe seven virgins await them in the afterlife”.
The statement attracted criticism from commentators who accused him of making disparaging remarks about Muslims and their religious beliefs.
‘My comments are being misinterpreted’
Responding to the criticism, Akpabio argued that contributions made during Senate debates were being taken out of context and portrayed as attacks on religious groups.
He accused some television commentators of interpreting lawmakers’ remarks for political purposes, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather pace.
“I don’t like the idea of people sitting down on television and trying to misinterpret what we discuss here in the Senate,” he said.
He added that disagreements were an essential part of legislative proceedings, where lawmakers were expected to challenge one another while working towards making laws for the country.
Akpabio also cited his record of supporting religious pilgrimages as evidence of his relationship with people of different faiths.
He said that, while serving as governor of Akwa Ibom State, he sponsored 5,800 Muslims to the holy land and more than 10,000 Christians to Rome and Jerusalem.
The Senate president further pointed to his long-standing relationships with Muslim members of his staff, saying his aide-de-camp had served him for 19 years.
He also said more than 65% of the people working with him were Muslims.
“There’s no way I will talk down on Muslim religion, so people who go out there to talk should study the personalities involved,” he said.
Akpabio speaks on suicide and religion
The Senate president also argued that terrorism should not be associated with any particular religion, saying those who commit suicide attacks should not use religious beliefs to justify violence.
“Terrorists are not Muslims. Terrorists are not Christians. Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their lives and the lives of others,” he said.
He added that Islam, as he understood it, prohibited suicide and the killing of others.
“The Muslim religion that I know forbids suicide; it forbids killing,” he said.
The debate on the Suicide Prevention Bill comes amid wider discussions about how Nigerian law should address attempted suicide and the support available to people experiencing mental health difficulties.
Akpabio urged Nigerians to consider the broader context of Senate deliberations and the chamber’s final decisions rather than judging proceedings solely on individual remarks.
“No matter the discussion, please take the final decision of the Senate into consideration,” he said.
