10 reasons Akpabio is ‘Godswill’ for 10th National Assembly

By Soji Ikotun

After months of permutations, tension and uncertainty, the electioneering process into the Presiding offices of the 10th National Assembly is taking shape. Contestants jostling for positions are aligning while some have stepped down their aspiration. Some non-serving lawmakers are not left out, so as the Civil Society Organisations, Legislative Aides organisations and political analysts.

In all, Nigerians are craving for better and quality representation from those they have trusted with their votes.

In the words of Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “there is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” This is a crucial moment for our nation. A period when Nigeria must get it right. The electorates have made decisions by electing leaders in the last elections while the elected leaders now have the responsibility to deliver on their campaign promises.

Constitutionally, the National Assembly is vested with several functions. Prominent among them are lawmaking, representation, oversight and a host of others. Most activities of the National Assembly are done through the Committees. Nigerians are expectant, we believe that the incoming members of parliament will take on the gauntlet of being genuine collaborators in development. The Executive arm of government needs a stable and reliable legislations to function because it is only when there is such synergy, peace and harmony that our programmes and policies can enjoy meaningful passage through the legislature, devoid of bureaucratic hindrances or bottlenecks.

In the face of the above, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio is the man who the cap fit as the President of the Senate of the 10th National Assembly. One certain attribute, you cannot take away from Akpabio is teamwork. He remain an enigma to millions of thoughts on how he attain such an unfathomable accomplishments at every sphere of life.

Akpabio cerebral capacity, erudition, distinctive lifestyle, savvy and sartorial elegance stand him tall both as a governor and a parliamentarian. His ideals and philosophy are embedded in the creed and ethos of selflessness, loyalty and goal oriented.

Here are ten major reasons why Akpabio’s Senate Presidency remain “Godswill” and uncommon mandate for the prosperity of the Nigeria.

Firstly, Akpabio is a blended solution to the aged long marginalisation in the APC political structure and power sharing. Some schools of thought have argued that the present administration favoured the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC members far more than the remaining three major alliances, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the newPeoples Democratic Party, nPDP and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.

The National Working Committee of the APC did not just throw weight behind Akpabio as an option. The decision was made out of prudent observation and redress of the grievance and disparities that has existed since the formation of the APC in February 2013.

The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-elect was from the then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, while, the Vice President-elect, Senator Kassim Shettima was a founding member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, the decision to pick Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, a product of CPC, a core Northern political party and mainly the President Muhammad Buhari’s structure made a perfect balance of power sharing and a resolve to encourage loyalty and steadfastness in the politic.
Secondly, Senator Akpabio, a South-south Christian, this will balance the religious polarity already existing within the APC and the top elective offices. He is imbued with charisma, he is God fearing, knowledge and experience to pilot the affairs of the 10th National Assembly as the Chairman.

Thirdly, the Akpabio’s Senate Presidency will be a perfect balance of power amongst the geopolitical zones and states. President to the South, Vice President to the North while Senate President returns to the South and North reclaim the Speakership.
Fourth, the need to avoid a Senate that could be hostile to the Executive arm also informed the choice of Akpabio as Senate President. With Senator Akpabio as head of the National Assembly, the incoming administration can be sure of required legislative support to solve the various challenges and deliver democratic dividends to Nigerians.

On the fifth note, we will all agree that politics being a game of numbers requires someone who can actually muzzle these numbers. Nigeria have had situations in the past when the Senate President ran a different agenda from that of the party and the Executive arm, thereby retarding progress of the administration. A legislative House that turned war zone with the Executive will have no or little to achieve. The three Arms of government are partners in progress and should be mindful of the fact that the electorates want results not revolt.

The sixth reason, clarify the need to have a round peg in a round hole. Akpabio had demonstrated loyalty to the Tinubu presidential project, through his support and commitment during the general election. Akpabio commands immense influence among his colleagues, he has a national appeal, understands the workings of the legislature and is fiercely loyal to the President and the country.

You wilI recall that Senator Akpabio bought nomination form to contest for the President along with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last APC Presidential Primary at Eagles Square, Abuja, last year, the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs set the stage for the withdrawal of other aspirants from the race, thus facilitating Tinubu’s victory.

Also, the electoral contribution of the South-South greatly helped the ruling party to clinch the presidency in the 2023 presidential election. It is, therefore, necessary for the party to consolidate its electoral success in the zone by zoning the Senate Presidency to it.

Seventh reason why Akpabio is “Godswill” for the Chairman of the National Assembly is that he has set enviable record of becoming the first Senate Minority Leader as a first-timer. It will be extremely hard to earn such attainment by an ordinary human. This eminently qualified Akpabio to sit atop the Red Chamber of the 10th National Assembly which will be constituted today, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, given his track record in the political firmament of the country.
Apart from his undoubted capacity in leadership, Akpabio is from the South-South geo-political zone of the country which produces the bulk of the wealth of the country and yet has not produced Nigeria’s senate president since the dawn of democracy in 1999. His antecedents, first as former governor of Akwa Ibom State, former senate Minority Leader and immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs make him eminently qualified and fit to take up this critical position at this material time.

Eight, Akpabio’s Senate presidency will further strengthen the place of APC in the South-South and ensure the party is solidified in the region. He is a man of the people hence he is the sort of politician that will give direction and many will follow.

The ninth reason is an affirmation that Akpabio has the full backing of the people of Akwa Ibom State and indeed the whole of the South-South region, unlike other contenders to the position.
Senator Akpabio has never been arrested, convicted or imprisoned. He served Akwa Ibom people creditably well as their governor between 2007 and 2015. He was elected Senator in 2015, soon after he left office as governor, and was unanimously elected Senate Minority Leader as soon as he got into the Senate, despite the fact as a first timer.

Conclusively and the tenth fact, what played out during the 4th and 5th Senate should be outrightly avoided. In a situation where the Senate produced five different Senate Presidents due to cases ranging from corruption, high handedness and lack of confidence and support.

The Presiding Officers of the National Assembly should not reversed to an era of banana peels that consumed the likes of Evans Enwerem, 3 June 1999 – 18 November 1999, Chuba Okadigbo, 18 November 1999 – 8 August 2000. Anyim Pius Anyim, completed the tenure from 8 August 2000 – 3 June 2003. The 5th Assembly elected Sen. Adolphus Wabara on 3 June 2003, he was impeached on the 5th of April 2005 while Sen. Ken Nnamani was picked on 5 April 2005, ended the tenure on the 5th June 2007. The Senate of the 10th Assembly must earn the trust and will of members to have a stable Chamber.

Earlier, in the long list of Candidates for the Senate President we have the likes of Senator Godswill Akpabio, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Osita Izunaso and Adams Oshiomhole in the race. I do not have anything against any of them they have all served Nigeria in different capacities and have shown competence, dedication to the task of nation building and mainly exceptional in these obligations. What we should not allow to happen is for a new entrant to emerge as the Senate President because the position requires a lot of experience.

As it is always said, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, the Senators-Elect under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Minority Caucus should as a matter of nationalism go all out to give Nigerians the best man for the job in the person of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the 10th Senate President on grounds of competence, equity, justice, and fair play. God bless Nigeria.