Watch trending video: "Poverty as a virtue?" Outrage over Akpabio's remark in Rome

• Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stirred a caller statement successful Nigeria aft stating that poorness is “not a crime” and could adjacent beryllium considered a “virtue”
• Akpabio made the connection portion addressing the media successful Rome pursuing his attendance astatine the ceremonial of Pope Francis
• Nigerians connected societal media wide condemned his remark arsenic seen successful a viral video, accusing him of insensitivity and misunderstanding of socio-economic realities

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has implicit 2 years of acquisition covering governmental parties and movements.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has travel nether dense disapproval aft helium said that ‘poverty is not a crime’ and that it tin sometimes beryllium considered a virtue.

Akpabio criticised implicit connection successful Rome

Akpabio describes poorness arsenic a virtuousness aft attending Pope Francis’ ceremonial successful Rome. Photo credit: Godswill Obot Akpabio, Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Akpabio stated this portion speaking from Rome aft attending the ceremonial of Pope Francis.

Legit.ng reported that Akpabio led a five-member Nigerian delegation to be the ceremonial of Pope Francis successful Vatican City.

The delegation was constituted by President Bola Tinubu and includes salient clergy and diplomats specified arsenic Archbishop Matthew Kukah and Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.

The Nigerian authorities volition officially present a condolence missive from President Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, amended known arsenic Pope Francis, who died connected Monday, April 21, 2025, astatine the property of 88 successful Vatican City, was laid to rest successful the Basilica of St. Mary Major successful Italy.

Shortly aft attending the ceremony, Akpabio successful a video making the rounds online, shared by Arise TV and NTA, said:

“When you look astatine the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church is not conscionable a church. The Vatican is besides regarded arsenic a state. You person the caput of authorities that d!ed and was buried today... heading implicit 1.5 cardinal radical astir the world."You person a antheral who d!ed arsenic a antheral today, the Pope, who was worthy lone $100, showing that we cannot worship God successful splendour."The champion mode to worship God is done self-sacrifice for others."

Nigerians respond arsenic Akpabio says poorness is not a crime

Akpabio led Nigerian delegation to Pope Francis funeral. Photo credit: Godswill Obot Akpabio
Source: Facebook

As usual, Nigerians took to the socal media level X to stock their opinion connected the Senate President's statement.

Legit.ng compiled a fewer reactions from the comment conception connected X below;

@csm_slow tweeted:

"Pope Francis was not mediocre pls. Let’s not dispersed misinformation. That helium chose to springiness retired his wage and had nary possessions doesn’t mean helium was poor. Because helium had nutrient connected his array astatine each times. He traveled to wherever helium wanted without paying from his pocket. He was humble."

@meekeejo tweeted:

"Why did helium not judge it arsenic his ain virtue? Where did helium work it from oregon perceive that poorness is simply a virtue?"

@phoenixkene tweeted:

"Akpabio the rubbish talker 😂 helium tin ne'er accidental thing good."

@EugeneOnah3 tweeted:

"That's wherefore we should person these politicians talk without giving them anterior clip to hole for comments without their immunodeficiency preparing a publication for them. "When they talk you volition cognize they are clueless and dumb without immoderate ideology oregon principle."

@OnyeisiVictorM tweeted:

"A virtuousness is simply a desirable motivation standard, behaviour oregon attitude."A virtuousness is NOT an economical presumption of deficiency and indigency."Contentment is simply a virtue! Poverty is NOT a virtue."This is simply a crude effort to gaslight people. You're breeding a POOR population, NOT a virtuous population."

Watch the video beneath arsenic Akpabio speaks astir poorness successful Rome:

Read much astir Akpabio here:

• Senator Natasha offers satirical apology to Senate President Akpabio successful letter
• VDM reacts to Natasha, Senate president’s saga

APC tackles VDM for criticising Akpabio's trip

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported earlier that the All Progressives Congress has issued an ultimatum to VeryDarkBlackMan pursuing his connection astir Godswill Akpabio.

Recall that the online professional had bashed the Senate president implicit his Vatican travel for Pope Francis' burial ceremony.

As his disapproval went viral, the ruling enactment took enactment against the audacious personality, starring to assorted reactions online.

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Source: Legit.ng