Akpabio’s Senate Presidency: Time to rally round Tinubu fair decisions

By Adeboye Adebayo

I must commend the Senators-Elect who are rightly jostling for the exalted seat of the Senate President with the caveat that they would however support the decision of the newly elected President-Elect, and those Senators-Elect who are hellbent on contesting against or doing anything inimical the fair and equitable decision(s) of the President-Elect should be reminded that history beckons again at the red chamber and being on the good side of history will be better for them.

Our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC and its incoming administration under the leadership of the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should start on a good and solid footing to achieve more unprecedented greatness for our nation and the red chamber as a major stakeholder in Nigerian government should strive to be part of it.

Ranking Senator Godswill Akpabio may not be a saint, he may have so many allegations around him but all still remain allegations until proven in the court of competent jurisdiction and after all, we all have allegations against us at different levels but checking the scorecard of Godswill Akapbio as it relates to the loyalty and belief in our great party and its agenda show that he is capable to lead the senate as its President.

I recall the flag off of our Presidential election in 2019 which kicked off in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Senator Godswill Akapbio proved a salient point that our great party, APC has a space, a large space at that in the South-South region of Nigeria despite being a stronghold of the opposition party over the years and he has maintained that feat till date, our recent 2023 Presidential rally and votes recorded for our party in Akwa-Ibom state and the South-South region attested to that as a fact.

Because of his stern belief in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he publicly stepped down for him at the Eagle Square, Abuja, the venue of our 2022 presidential primaries. I was thrilled that night when I listened and watched him reeling out the reasons behind his belief that Bola Tinubu will do better than him in the Presidential capacity and he also reiterated his great commitment and unwavering willingness to stand by him, support him and be at his back solidly to achieve more greatness for Nigeria and Nigerians.

For Akpabio, it is not about him being the president but rather supporting anyone with sight and vision to actualise what he even intended for Nigeria and Nigerians.

His Words: “Having taken cognisance of the APC and the efforts of the governors to bring peace in a fragile situation like this, that yes! We are looking at South but I have seen a man who is older than me and who was the first visioner in governance and that man enabled us to have good governance in Lagos State and also to have the development we have in Lagos state today. So Mr. President, I would have delivered a very powerful speech today on my manifesto which included three major items, that of security, that of unity of the country, that of the economy of the country which involves infrastructure and as a man who is known as a governor that turns boys into men, I would have said yes, indeed I would have done so but I don’t have to do so by being president, I will join the next president to turn the boys in Nigeria into men and therefore, I doff my hat and I urge you that as I withdraw now, vote for Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, vote for Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the 93 delegates of Akwa Ibom, the hundreds of delegates across Nigeria, the 1200 delegates that were ready to put me in office, I urge you, I plead with you to unite our party, unite our party, make APC reign and bring in this man to take over from our current president and we will support him, I will be there supporting him, I urge you, vote for Ahmed Bola Tinubu as your next president, thank you and God bless Nigeria.”

In quotes are the committed words, words of belief, loyalty words of Senator Godswill Akpabio while stepping down for the President-Elect during the Presidential primaries last year at the Eagle Square where he displayed utmost commitment and loyalty to the unity and progress of APC.

Few days ago, he addressed the pressmen and after paying a consultation visit to President Mohammodu Buhari and he reiterated his commitment to his motto “Turning boys into men” there are many boys in Nigeria who need just a little push through right policies’ formulation and implementation in their skills, businesses, education, ideas and the rest to be turned into men and he has been consistently offering that and he has reiterated his commitment if elected Senate President to be loyal to the course of governance as it will be led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, loyal to the constitution of Nigeria & Nigerians, to the numerous needed reforms in the country and above all Akpabio has reiterated his commitment to the constructive empowerments of Nigerian youths in all ramifications and all of these and more in line are the agenda of Bola Tinubu’s Presidency and the APC, hence there will be a great partnership that will be result-oriented in Akpabio’s Senate Presidency or what else are we looking for in a Senate President.

It is no doubt that the election of a Senate President is the sole prerogative of the Senators-Elect and they should at this point consider the unity and progress of the country as the utmost and ultimate thing.

Indications have shown that President-Elect Bola Tinubu is comfortable with Godswill Akpabio’s Presidency and Senators-Elect should as a matter of patriotism, irrespective of party affiliations align with the fair and equitable body language of the President-Elect for the good, progress and development of our nation.

Those fanning the embers of discord for selfish reasons should desist, those threatening the nation with inglorious Saraki’s scenario should have a rethink, let the Senators-Elect begin to display acts of sacrifice, understanding, commitment and indeed, patriotism from now on so that the incoming administration will start on a good and sound footings.

Irrespective of other things, Ranking Senator Godswill Akpabio is experienced, humane, committed, dedicated, loyal and patriotic to the greatness of Nigeria and Nigerians, hence he should be given a chance, after all he has no immunity as a Senate President, so why the Hullabaloos.

Comrade Adeboye Adebayo is the National Director, Media & Publicity, Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023 & Spokesperson, “recently dissolved” APC, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.