A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nasarawa State Chairman of the ruling party, Hon. Aliyu Bello has commended Senate President Godswill Akpabio for demonstrating impeccable leadership qualities which is bringing much-needed stability to the tenth senate.
Hon. Bello gave the commendation in a chat with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
While extolling Senator Akpabio’s leadership style informed by his vast experience in governance and legislation, having being a commissioner, two-term governor, minister, as well as former majority leader of the senate.
Reacting to calls for Senator Akpabio to be taken back to school to learn diplomatic etiquette, Hon. Bello described the call as not only unfortunate but a great disservice to a leader that is giving his best to move the nation forward.
Recall that Prof. Anthony Kila, a public policy analyst and International Director of Studies at the European Centre for Advanced Professional and International Studies in Lagos, had during a breakfast television show on Arise TV, took a swipe at the senate president for describing President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reintroduce Nigeria’s old national anthem as the most profound act of the president.
“This call by Prof. Kila is most unpatriotic. There is no senate president that is better prepared for his responsibilities like Senator Godswill Akpabio. He came to the job prepared and he has been discharging his duties without blemish.
“If the professor has issues with the old or new national anthem, he should take the matter before the appropriate quarters and not to seek to drag the name of Senator Akpabio into it,” he said.
According to the APC chieftain, there was nothing wrong when Senator Akpabio, during a joint sitting of the national assembly with President Tinubu in attendance, commended the president for bringing back the country’s old national anthem, which he said would serve to further unite the people.
Hon. Bello pointed out that instead of trying to castigate the senate president at any given opportunity, Nigerians should learn to appreciate Akpabio’s dexterity characterized by his ability to put the greater good above personal interests.
“Despite his acclaimed qualifications, Prof Kila is the one to return to the classroom for trying to call out someone who has been a governor and has excelled for eight years, has been a majority leader, been a minister and now a senate president. For saying what he said, Prof Kila should be the one to return to the classroom and not Senator Akpabio,” he stated.
Bello cited for instance that when Senator Abdul Ningi was suspended for three months, Akpabio could have opted for a harsher punishment, but he chose to prioritize the interests of Ningi’s constituents and the country at large.
Senator Ningi was suspended for three months in March for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion.
For Hon. Bello, Akpabio showed uncommon traits as a stabilizer in the tenth senate in the manner he handled both the suspension and recall of the Bauchi senator.
“Just look at the way and manner the senate under Akpabio handled the suspension and recall of Senator Ningi. I am sure you are aware that some detractors wanted to use that incidence as a catalyst to cause disunity among the lawmakers. But Senator Akpabio showed his leadership prowess by handling the matter efficiently,” he said.
The Nasarawa APC Chairman commended Senator Akpabio for the manner in which he handled the matter concerning Senator Ningi, especially with the weighty allegation from the Bauchi lawmaker that could have impungned on the integrity of the red chamber.
He added that Akpabio’s experience in governance and legislation spanning decades, from his time as a commissioner in Akwa Ibom State to his tenure as governor and later as a minister, prepared him adequately for his present role.
“This is why it is visible for all to see that Senator Akpabio is demonstrating uncommon leadership traits, and his colleagues in the Senate have confidence in his ability to lead, which is bringing much-needed stability to the Senate,” he stated.
Hon. Bello explained that for an institution like the senate known for its high turnover of leadership, Senator Akpabio is bringing exceptional leadership to unite the national assembly irrespective of party affiliations and thereby giving the tenth assembly a sense of stability.
“As a political party, we are happy with Senator Akpabio for bringing unity and stability to the National Assembly. That way the National Assembly will continue to play pivotal role in safeguarding our democracy, and for the legislature to support our President to deliver on his campaign promises to the people of Nigeria,” he said.
The APC stalwart equally appreciated the senate president for jointly summoning a meeting recently involving the speaker of the House of Representatives, the Nigerian Governor’s Forum and the organized labour aimed at averting the short-lived nationwide strike by workers over the new national minimum wage.
“I commend Senate President Godswill Akpabio for his sterling leadership and his commitment to stability in the tenth senate. His leadership is a beacon of hope for our country, and I have no doubt that he will continue to deliver on his promises,” Hon. Bello added.