Speaking during an interview with SYMFONI on Saturday, February 7, 2026, Akah criticised what he described as a display of leisure and privilege at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with severe economic hardship.
Akah recalled Oshiomhole’s long-standing public persona as a rugged labour leader, often remembered for his years as President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), where he was frequently seen wearing khaki outfits and sweating while leading protests and negotiations on behalf of workers.
According to the activist, the viral clip sharply departs from that image and raises questions about priorities in public service.
The video in question, which surfaced earlier in the week, shows the former Edo State Governor aboard a luxury private jet with a woman identified on social media as Leshaan Dagama, a South African lifestyle influencer.
In the footage, believed to be a personal recording, Oshiomhole is seen massaging the woman’s leg while engaging in casual conversation.
The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing intense reactions from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.
Reacting to the footage, Akah used biting irony to underline his criticism of the senator.
“Oshiomhole who wears khaki and be sweating, they put leg on top of his leg and he was carefully massaging it.
If he has put that kind of pressure and intelligence into budget we would have had a better budget,” he said during the interview.
Akah argued that the same attention and effort displayed in the private setting should be reflected in legislative work, particularly in the scrutiny of national budgets and policies that directly affect citizens’ welfare.
The activist further stated that the outrage surrounding the video was not necessarily about personal relationships, but about symbolism.
According to him, many Nigerians see the footage as emblematic of a political class that appears detached from the everyday struggles of ordinary people, especially amid rising inflation, unemployment, and the increasing cost of living.
Since the video went viral, social media has been awash with mixed reactions. While some users condemned what they described as a show of excess and distraction, others defended the senator, insisting that his private life should not be subject to public scrutiny.
A section of commentators also questioned the timing of the video’s release, suggesting possible political motives behind its circulation.
In response to the controversy, Oshiomhole’s media office issued a statement on February 4, 2026, dismissing the clip as a fabrication.
The statement described the footage as a “poorly crafted AI-generated” video allegedly designed to blackmail and cyberbully the senator.
The media team maintained that the lawmaker remains focused on his legislative responsibilities and urged the public to disregard what it termed false and malicious content.
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