Retired Nigerian Army Major General and prominent Northern elder, Haruna Garba Gololo, popularly known as Garus Gololo, has reportedly been arrested in Abuja for 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.
According to sources familiar with the development, who spoke with Sahara Reporters, the retired military officer was allegedly invited for questioning after the video went viral.
Akpabio’s Comment Sparks Anger
The controversy followed comments 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 criticised the comment.
Gololo, who has become known in recent years for his outspoken political views, was one of the Senate President’s most vocal critics.
In the viral video, Gololo accused Akpabio of disrespecting the people of Northern Nigeria.
He said, “Okay, good afternoon again, my fellow Nigerians. We heard your message, Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“You say, oh, the Northern vote of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, or they didn’t vote that is returning. No worries.
“What did you vote for in the last election? You win? You get nothing. Do you have any vote from Akwa Ibom? You don’t carry any votes with you.
“You bring nothing but yourself. And the Northerners, they are the ones that put you as a President of Senate. “Today you tell us whether we like it or not.”
Gololo insisted that Northerners had the constitutional right to say who to support in future elections.
“No politician can tell the citizen how to vote,” he said.
“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 added.
We are Nigerians we are citizens. Who are you, , , The same Northerners. They give you a minister.”
Gololo Hits Akpabio
The retired general also accused Akpabio of corruption, saying the Senate President had issues 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 pity. Someone who was a criminal, who was prosecuted by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo. We have the evidence. You’re talking nonsense.”
He went further to call Akpabio “worst Senate President” and “most corrupt Senate President.”
“Senate President. Worst Senate President. The most corrupt Senate President ever. The Senate President condemned. The useless Senate President,” Gololo said.
Gololo insisted that Northern voters would freely choose their political options ahead of 2027.
“We are in Nigeria,” he said. We’re Northeners. And we’re proud to be Northerners. And we are not going to vote Tinubu.
Go to hell. We can’t vote for him. We are voting Atiku”. And you don’t even tell us to leave Nigeria.
“Try it. I don’t care who you are. Who are you to tell us who to vote for or not? You’re to get out of the country.
We are not going out of Nigeria”. We are people. Senate President doesn’t make you… You’re not supposed to talk to us anyway. Anytime you talk to us anyway I’ll talk to you anyway.
The retired general also questioned Akpabio’s political relevance during the 2023 election.
“Did you make us vote for Tinubu in 2023? We voted Tinubu. What vote did you bring from Akwa Ibom? What was your vote? What did you bring to Tinubu? Nonsense,” he added.
