Why Does Akpabio Keep Fighting Northern Senators?
Godswill Akpabio has not done a good job as the head of the upper chamber of the National Assembly. There have been so many controversies within the first year of his leadership of the lawmakers.
As the third citizen of the country after the president and his vice, whatever he does or says goes a long way to show how firm the unity of the country is. It’s always been in questions, but he (perhaps unintentionally) sowed seeds of discord and it will negatively affect the president, Bola Tinubu, who tipped him to the elevated seat.
He has had issues with a number of senators. And virtually all of them are from northern region. Specifically, under his watch, the Bauchi Central Senatorial District representative Ahmed Ningi was suspended. What was his offence?
He raised an alarm that the 2024 appropriation bill was padded with more than 1 trillion naira. The lawmaker didn’t say anything new, the scandal has always been there with the “hallowed” chamber. Ningi perhaps came out to talk because he was not comfortable with the sharing formula. Nevertheless, northern elements including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and former vice president Alhaji Abubakar Atiku showed their support for him.
The support they gave to Ningi would not immediately affect Godswill Akpabio, but his benefactor, Tinubu.
Then the issue of Ali Ndume, that top and “aged” Senator from Borno State is there. Ndume, a kingmaker in the red Chamber said that he participated in the struggle to put the former Akwa Ibom State governor to power. Akpabio has not denied that yet.
He has been talking angrily tackling the president himself and his stooge at the helm of affairs of the Senate. He said that the president had made himself really inaccessible, and that he didn’t take advice. As the Chief Whip of the house, Ndume is not just a floor member. Therefore, his opinion means a lot.
What did the Senate President do? A leader should have attempted to pacify Ndume and found out what was the issue. After all, they all become agitated when their personal interests are at stake. Yet, there should be a room for negotiation so as to make all parties win.
Akpabio has had issues with his predecessor Ahmad Lawan. The immediate past Senate President, who contested for the ticket of the APC for the presidential election, drew the attention of the leader to the plenary sitting time. Akpabio didn’t hesitate to tell Lawan that the Yobe politician is responsible for it.
What about Ireti Kingibe of the Federal Capital Territory? She had issue with Nyesom Wike as per social amenities in the territory. Publicly, Akpabio derided his colleague and instead praised his “ally” Wike.
The president is being tagged as using Akpabio to haunt his political “foes”.
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