The senator representing Akwa Ibom north-west, Godswill Akpabio has revealed that some clergymen in Akwa Ibom State now call him a killer herdsman, they also pray and lie against him because he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In August 2018, Akpabio who was minority leader at the Senate, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and to join the ruling APC.

Responding to how his critics have taken his decision to join APC in an article titled ‘The Lies and Liars of the Election’, Akpabio said his defection overshadowed the mind of the men of God as they turned against him following the decision. He said:

“I am happy that God is not like some of His priests.

“Ever since I decamped to APC, they have been praying against me and they have joined in peddling the lies about me. Very well known Church prelates and Bishops that dined with me for 8 years while I was governor, despite my benevolence to them and their families joined the fray calling me killer herdsman for joining APC.

“But some of these men of God were in this same Country in 2012 when the farmers/herdsmen clashes claimed the lives of over 1000 people in the Benue/Plateau/Mambilla axis. At that time, a Christian was the President but was not accused of being a killer of Christians. The farmers/herdsmen clashes predate Nigeria’s Independence.

“The clashes have occurred under various leadership. Yet the “men of God” have been unconscionable in accusing the current President of masterminding genocide against Christians because he is a Muslim. I am happy that God does not condemn a man based on one man’s testimony, but He sees the heart and judges our motives and intentions. Whether one is a Christian or Muslim, we all worship the same God WHO will at the appointed time judge us from our deeds in words and actions.”