Mahdi Shehu Warns Nigerians Abroad: “Don’t Be Deceived by Akpabio’s Claims, All Is Not Well at Home”

Public affairs analyst Mahdi Shehu has urged Nigerians in the diaspora not to believe recent remarks by Senate President Godswill Akpabio about the state of the nation, describing them as deceptive and far from reality.

In a statement posted on his official X handle on Wednesday, Shehu accused Akpabio of presenting a misleading picture of progress and stability in Nigeria, warning citizens abroad not to be swayed by what he called political propaganda.

He highlighted the economic and social hardships faced by millions of Nigerians, claiming that 139 million people are struggling with hunger, 60 million youths remain unemployed, and more than 30 million children are suffering from severe malnutrition. He also lamented the country’s rising debt profile, which he put at N170 trillion, warning that “coming back home is at your own risk.”

Citing Bible verses to reinforce his message, Shehu referred to Psalm 10:7 and Ephesians 5:6 as moral reminders against deceitful leadership. He accused Nigerian leaders of turning dishonesty into a political norm, saying, “Our leaders have made lying a trade and deception a permanent culture.”

Shehu urged Nigerians living abroad to look beyond political speeches and official statements, insisting that the true situation in the country is marked by poverty, unemployment, and widespread discontent.