ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY H.E. DISTINGUISHED SENATOR (CHIEF) GODSWILL OBOT AKPABIO, CON, ON HIS ELECTION AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, THIS 13TH DAY OF JUNE, 2023.

H.E. the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau,
The Senate Leader, Principal Officers of the Senate,
Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Ladies and gentlemen.

To God Almighty the creator of the universe, who alone is supreme be all
glory, honour, majesty, dominion and power. I bow before you and
acknowledge your inestimable control of all that we do and that we are.
2. Today marks a historic moment as we embark on a new chapter in the
Senate. Distinguished Senators, today, I stand before you humbled,
honored, and filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and
responsibility as I acknowledge and accept your call to serve as the
President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I assure you that
I will discharge the responsibilities of this office with utmost dedication,
integrity, and fairness.
3. I am humbled because your choice reflects the collective will of the
Senate, this assembly of Nigerians whose role and responsibilities for Nigeria
is at the apex of the demands of true patriotism, loyalty and devotion to the
country. As the Senate, you represent the entire country and your choice is

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a reflection of the choice of your constituents, of all Nigeria. And I thank you
very sincerely for it.
4. Many of the challenges we have had, and many of the defining
moments of our historic journey as a nation towards true democracy, have
been met and made by those who have hitherto occupied this seat. I am
therefore immensely grateful not only for the great trust you have placed in
me today by electing me as the President of the Senate but also for the
opportunity to serve our great nation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
5. I assure you, Distinguished Senators, that I am mindful of the enormous
responsibilities that this position calls for. You will have my cooperation in all
matters and our joint efforts will be one of team-work. I extend my sincere
hands of fellowship to all of us, including those who, at a time, may have
had different opinions regarding the leadership of the Senate. These
expressions of differing and opposing opinions and views are but the fabric
that democracy is made of. Democracy, ultimately, has to do with choice,
and there can be no real choice where and when there are no alternatives.
It is time now to go forward with the task set before us as a collective body
– the promulgation of laws and enactments for the well-being and security
of the country and as a check on the executive arm of the government of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in our oversight functions. Together, we shall
reach and surpass the expectations of the Nigerian people regarding us,
and our roles in building a better, safer, more inclusive, prosperous, efficient
and ethical country.

6. I am pleased, as I am sure that you too are, that we have in His Excellency,
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, a President and Commander in Chief
of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is committed

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to a strong economy, national security, inclusion and the rule of law. The
antecedents of Mr President and his actions in office these past two weeks
give not just a pointer but bear witness to an executive government that
knows the challenges of the country and is in a hurry to resolve same. We
should therefore, anticipate an executive that is pro-active, progressive
and practical. Our laws must therefore, align with the vision of Mr. President
to protect and provide for our people at the innermost core of their essence
while our actions must also guarantee the best and most efficient use of our
national commonwealth.
7. Government is a continuum and the Senate is no less so. We shall
therefore, further strengthen the legislative space in continuation of the
laudable efforts made by the 9th Senate under the able leadership of H.E.
Senator Ahmed Lawan, GCON, President of the 9th Senate. Chief among
these are:
i. Gender matters, with specific affirmative provisions to guarantee
women’s inclusivity;

ii. Issues relating to persons with special needs and equality;

iii. Engaging, empowering and rewarding our resourceful and
innovative youths in terms of protection of intellectual innovations
and property, and improved access to finance for technological
start-ups. We must recognize and prepare for a mid-21st century
global economy that places a premium on intellectual content and
knowledge, and our young men and women must be supported to
engage competitively;

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iv. Expansion of the revenue streams available to the country, especially
from our huge but largely unregulated natural and solid mineral
resources base. These additional sources of revenue will build the
nation’s resilience to shocks and stresses resulting from the fluctuation
of oil prices in the international market;

v. We will, as a forward-looking Senate, pass laws that emphasize
economic viability, social acceptability and environmental
sustainability, to encourage alternate and green technologies
without prejudicing our developmental needs.
8. We must, therefore, as a Senate, rise to partner with His Excellency the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and provide the required
legislative framework and legal environment for him to anchor the policies
and programmes that he espouses for the country. In doing this, I will
particularly like to address our Distinguished colleagues from other parties.
Yes, we may have come to the National Assembly through the
instrumentalities of different political parties, so it is appropriate to recognize
and respect our differing perceptions and positions on issues that will be
brought before this chamber. However, in all matters of national interest,
we are enjoined to remember that we are first and foremost, Distinguished
Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, before our roles as
representatives and members of our individual political parties. There is
therefore, every reason to support good policies and programmes of the
federal government, and I call on you to put this national interest first at all
times. Our Senate, the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will be

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a senate for all Nigeria. Together, we shall be greater than the sum of our
individual political parties. On my part, Distinguished Senators, I affirm that
this leadership shall be yours. It shall be a servant leadership; it shall be an
uncommon leadership.
9. To the Nigerian people, I say this: your dreams, your aspirations, and your
well-being will be at the heart of everything we will do in this Senate. I urge
you to remain hopeful, steadfast, and united. Nigerians must remember that
the nation is caught up in global challenges and upheavals which have far
reaching consequence; the impact of armed conflicts in Europe and
Africa, as well as global political and economic realignments are but a few
of these events impacting Nigeria, other countries in Africa and even
beyond. Our Senate will remain watchful of, and will be responsive to, these
events.
10. Finally I plead with you, Distinguished Senators, to permit me to offer
special commendation to the President and Commander in Chief of the
Armed Forces, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. On behalf
of the Senate I thank you for the fatherly but decisive manner in which you
have commenced the journey of piloting the affairs of our great country.
Our nation is better off with you at the helm of affairs. We also thank in a
special way the Vice President, His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima
GCON. The leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress,
headed by our indefatigable Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, CON,
has provided tremendous guidance to us all. Thank you for your wise
counsel during the course of the search for the leadership of the 10th
Senate. I also thank the Clerk, management and all staff of the National

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Assembly, and I offer my sincere gratitude to them for efficiently organizing
the inauguration of the 10th Senate.
11. To my dear wife, Her Excellency Unoma Ekaette Godswill-Akpabio, I
thank you for the prayers you have made on behalf of this quest. May God
continue to reward the sacrifices that you and the rest of the family have
put up with.
Thank you all, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

H.E. Chief Godswill Obot-Akpabio, CON
President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria.