Senate President Godswill Akpabio talk say im don dey send pipo to Mecca to pray for am and Nigeria for di past 25 years, and im dey dismiss any suggestion say im go talk bad about Islam.

Akpabio talk during plenary on Thursday when im dey respond to criticism of im comments during debate on di Suicide Prevention Bill 2026.

On Tuesday, during consideration of di bill wey Asuquo Ekpenyong, senator wey represent Cross River south, sponsor, Akpabio talk say some young pipo dey think about suicide because "dem believe say seven virgins dey wait for dem for afterlife".

Im remarks cause criticism from some commentators wey accuse am say im dey disrespect Muslims.

When im respond to di backlash, Akpabio talk say discussions for senate no suppose be taken out of context or interpreted as attack on religious groups.

"I love di Muslim religion. I dey send pipo to Mecca to pray for me and to pray for dis country, and I dey do that even up to yesterday, and I don dey do that since di last 25 years," im talk.

"So I no know why pipo go sit down for television and dem try to misinterpret wetin we talk here because politics dey come."

Di senate president talk say im dey concerned say comments wey dem make during debates dey misrepresented for television programmes for political purposes.