Morganable politics/Governance
The Senate President particularly cautioned television panellists, political analysts and other public commentators against presenting legislative contributions in ways that could mislead Nigerians about the intentions of lawmakers.
KaNo —
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has cautioned Nigerians against misinterpreting contributions made by lawmakers during plenary, stressing that individual opinions expressed in legislative debates should not be regarded as the official position of the Senate.
Akpabio issued the warning during Thursday’s plenary amid growing public criticism of his opposition to a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide and replace imprisonment with medical treatment, rehabilitation and psychological support for survivors.
The Senate President maintained that legislative debates naturally involved disagreements, opposing arguments and differing perspectives, adding that Nigerians should assess the decisions ultimately reached by the chamber rather than isolate statements made during deliberations.
His clarification followed reactions to comments he made on Tuesday while opposing the proposed legislation, during which he insisted that attempted suicide should remain a criminal offence and that survivors should face imprisonment.
The Suicide Prevention Bill 2026, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, passed second reading on Tuesday despite Akpabio’s objections.
Speaking on Thursday, Akpabio explained that lawmakers must be allowed to express divergent opinions on proposed legislation without their contributions being taken out of context or interpreted as the collective position of the National Assembly.
“When we discuss here, we discuss for and against, and in the course of our discussions, whatever we say should not anger anybody outside this chamber, because at the end, what matters is our final decision,” he said.
He emphasised that the primary responsibility of the legislature was to enact laws that would serve the interests of Nigerians, noting that disagreements among senators formed an essential part of the legislative process.
“We want to make the best laws, so we are bound to oppose each other, and we are also bound to support each other,” Akpabio stated.
The Senate President particularly cautioned television panellists, political analysts and other public commentators against presenting legislative contributions in ways that could mislead Nigerians about the intentions of lawmakers.
He urged commentators to focus on the substance of legislative proposals and the chamber’s eventual resolutions rather than subject individual contributions to politically motivated interpretations.
“No matter the discussion, please consider the final decision of the Senate. Don’t go and sit down in panels and try to do politically motivated discussions,” he added.
Akpabio also addressed concerns surrounding his references to religion and terrorism during discussions on the proposed suicide prevention legislation, insisting that violent acts should not be associated with any particular religious group.
“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 maintained that Islam prohibited suicide and the unlawful taking of human lives, arguing that extremist claims about rewards for suicide bombers should not be interpreted as representing Islamic teachings.
The Senate President further explained that discussions surrounding suicide legislation should recognise the distinction between individuals experiencing mental health challenges and those who deliberately engage in acts intended to cause death or harm to others.
“You have to distinguish between suicide committed by people who are mentally disturbed and suicide intentionally committed by people who are physically sound,” Akpabio said.
According to him, lawmakers have a responsibility to examine the circumstances surrounding different forms of conduct when considering legislation intended to address societal challenges.
Defending his position on religious tolerance, Akpabio recalled his record of supporting religious activities during his tenure as governor, saying he had sponsored 5,800 Muslims on pilgrimage and more than 10,000 Christians to Rome and Jerusalem.
He also cited his longstanding relationships with Muslim members of his staff as evidence of his respect for religious diversity.
“My ADC for 19 years is a Muslim. I don’t recognise him as a Muslim. I recognise him as a brother,” he said.
Akpabio disclosed that more than 65 per cent of his staff were Muslims, maintaining that he had never intended to disparage Islam or its adherents.
“There’s no way I will talk down on Muslim religion,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding his remarks has renewed attention to the Suicide Prevention Bill 2026 and its proposed changes to Nigeria’s legal approach to attempted suicide.
The legislation seeks to address inconsistencies between existing criminal laws and the National Mental Health Act, which recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring medical intervention.
Under provisions of the Criminal Code and Penal Code, attempted suicide remains criminalised, creating concerns about the treatment of survivors who may require urgent psychological and psychiatric support.
Presenting the bill during Tuesday’s plenary, Ekpenyong argued that individuals who survived suicide attempts should receive appropriate medical assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up support instead of being subjected to imprisonment.
The proposed legislation also provides for crisis intervention helplines, public awareness campaigns and specialised training for police officers, teachers and healthcare professionals to improve responses to people experiencing suicidal crises.
It further seeks to establish a national data system to support suicide prevention policies, strengthen monitoring and provide information necessary for developing effective interventions.
However, Akpabio opposed the proposed decriminalisation during Tuesday’s debate, maintaining that attempted suicide should continue to attract criminal sanctions.
“As far as we are concerned, we are saying that suicide is a crime for now. Therefore, if you attempt it, you better succeed.
“If you don’t succeed, we will send you to prison,” he said.
He subsequently reinforced his position, declaring, “If you attempt it and don’t succeed, we will jail you.”
The Senate President also questioned the legal implications of the proposed reforms, noting that relevant provisions existed under both the Criminal Code and Penal Code and that state legislatures would have roles in addressing the applicable laws.
Despite the disagreement, the Senate approved the bill for second reading and referred it to its Committees on Judiciary and Health for further consideration, including a public hearing.
The referral provides an opportunity for lawmakers, medical professionals, mental health advocates and other stakeholders to examine the proposals before further legislative decisions are taken.
The bill’s passage through second reading, however, does not constitute final approval or an immediate amendment to existing legislation.
It remains subject to further committee scrutiny, legislative consideration and the necessary approval processes before any proposed changes can become law.
