Paul Ibe, media aide to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to apologise over a comment reportedly linking suicide to beliefs about being rewarded with seven virgins in the afterlife.
Ibe described the remark as insensitive and inappropriate for someone occupying the country’s highest legislative office, arguing that it risked reinforcing harmful stereotypes about religion and mental health.
In a statement published on X on Wednesday, he said suicide and suicide attempts should be treated as serious public health concerns rather than subjects for ridicule or punitive responses.
He maintained that people experiencing suicidal thoughts or surviving suicide attempts need compassion, professional care and psychological support.
Questioning the Senate President’s choice of words, Ibe challenged him to explain why religious stereotypes had been introduced into a discussion involving mental health.
“What exactly were you trying to achieve by introducing such a crude religious stereotype into a serious debate about mental health? Were you trying to entertain your colleagues or trivialise the suffering of vulnerable Nigerians?” he asked.
Ibe argued that associating suicidal behaviour with beliefs about the afterlife oversimplified a complex issue and risked dismissing the circumstances that could drive individuals into severe emotional distress.
He stressed that public officials should approach discussions about suicide with sensitivity, particularly given the challenges faced by people dealing with mental health conditions.
Atiku’s Aide Opposes Punishment For Suicide Attempts
The ADC presidential candidate’s aide also criticised the criminalisation of attempted suicide, arguing that survivors should receive medical and psychological assistance rather than face imprisonment.
He linked the need for stronger mental health support to Nigeria’s economic difficulties, including unemployment, poverty and widespread financial distress.
According to Ibe, threatening imprisonment for people who survive suicide attempts ignores the underlying factors that may have contributed to their distress.
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are battling crushing economic hardship, unemployment, poverty and hopelessness, the last thing they need is a Senate President threatening imprisonment for those who attempt suicide and survive,” he said.
He further accused Akpabio of focusing on punishment instead of addressing gaps in access to psychiatric services, counselling and other forms of mental healthcare.
Also Read: INEC explains how AI will be used in Nigeria’s 2027 elections
“You cannot govern people into hopelessness and then threaten to imprison them for manifesting that hopelessness,” Ibe added.
Call For Apology And Legal Reforms
Ibe urged Akpabio to apologise to Nigerians, particularly people experiencing mental health difficulties and those who felt their religious beliefs had been misrepresented.
He also called on the National Assembly to decriminalise attempted suicide and strengthen mental health services across the country.
According to him, the appropriate response to a suicide attempt should be to establish the circumstances behind the person’s distress and provide the support needed for recovery.
“Mr Akpabio, when a Nigerian attempts suicide and survives, the question should not be how many years that person deserves in prison. It should be what drove that person to despair and how society can help them recover.
“A cry for help must never become an invitation to punishment,” he said.