Retired Nigerian Army Major General and prominent Northern elder, Haruna Garba Gololo, popularly known as Garus Gololo, has been reportedly arrested in Abuja after criticising Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Gololo was picked up at Grand Square Supermarket in Abuja after he made comments in a viral video against Akpabio over remarks linked to the 2027 presidential election, it was reported.
Sources familiar with the development told Sahara Reporters that the retired military officer was allegedly invited for questioning after the video went viral.
Akpabio’s Comment Provokes Anger
The controversy followed remarks attributed to Akpabio that President Bola Tinubu would return in 2027 “whether Northerners like it or not.”
Some Northern political stakeholders were reported to have condemned the remark.
Gololo, who has gained notoriety for his outspoken political views in recent years, was one of the Senate President’s most vocal critics.
In the viral video, Gololo accused Akpabio of disrespecting the Northern Nigerians.
He said, “Okay, good afternoon once again, my fellow Nigerians. We heard you, Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
You say, oh, the Northern vote of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or they didn’t vote that is coming back. No worries.
“What did you vote for last election? You win ? You get nothing. Do you carry any vote from Akwa Ibom? You don’t bring any votes with you.
You bring nothing but you. And the Northerners, they are the ones that put you as a Senate President. “Today you tell us, like it or not.”
Gololo insisted that it was the constitutional right of the Northerners to choose who to support in future elections.
He said no politician could tell citizens how to vote.
“You said whether we vote Tinubu or we don’t vote Tinubu, Tinubu is coming back, and unless you leave the country, you are the one who is going to leave the country,” the retired General further said.
We are Nigerians, we are citizens. Who are you , , , The same Northerners. They give you a minister.”
Akpabio Gololo Hits –
Akpabio was also accused of corruption by the retired general who said the Senate President had problems with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“When you are a criminal, you have your charges in the EFCC, in the Akwa Ibom money, and then when they give you a Niger Delta, it’s a shame for you even to be a Senate President.
“It is a shame of Akpabio. What a shame. A criminal who was prosecuted by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation. We have all the proof. You’re talking nonsense.
He also described Akpabio as the “worst Senate President” and “most corrupt Senate President.”
“Senate President. Worst Senate President. The most corrupt Senate President ever. Senate President condemns. The useless Senate President,” Gololo said.
Northern voters will freely decide their political options before 2027, Gololo said.
“We are in Nigeria,” he said. We are Northeners. And we’re proud to be Northerners. And we will not vote Tinubu.
To hell with you. We’re not able to vote for him. “We are voting Atiku”. And you don’t even tell us to go away from Nigeria.
“Try it. I don’t care who you are. Who are you to tell us who to vote for or not? You are to get out of the country.
“We are not leaving Nigeria”. We are people. Senate President doesn’t make you… You’re not supposed to talk to us anyways. Anytime you talk to us anyway, I’ll talk to you anyway.”
The retired general also questioned the political relevance of Akpabio in the 2023 election.
“Did you make us vote Tinubu in 2023? We voted Tinubu. What vote did you carry from Akwa Ibom? What did you vote? What did you bring for Tinubu?” ~ “Rubbish,” he added.
