The several crises around Senate President Godswill Akpabio
The ex Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio took over the affairs of the Senate in June, 2023. He has been embroiled in sme crises since that time and they point to his lack of capacity to lead the House, which contains several vested interests.
Mr. Akpabio didn’t have it that easy. He actually enjoyed the understandable support of President Bola Tinubu, who rallied other members of the Senate for him. Mr. Ali Ndume, an experienced and older member of the house also gave him the needed support.
But less than five months into his leadership of the chamber, he has started having issues with the people who pushed his candidacy for the top lawmaking job.
The Borno south Senator, Ndume, staged a walkout yesterday after an argument over house proceedings with the Senate President Godswill Akpabio. They exchanged some words after the Chief Whip of the Senate said that Akpabio could learn from some mistakes on how to rule the house.
The president of the Senate shut his colleague up and that made Ndume pack his notepad, laptop and the House rule to immediately leave. That was not the first scenario.
Ndume had earlier challenged the ex Akwa Ibom State governor of passing some bills without carrying other members of the House along. Ndume joined one other senator to point at the process of passing the bills without inputs of others.
Akpabio replied that whatever he does is in the interest of the people of the country. He didn’t deny passing the bills hurriedly and without the consent of others.
Before the lawmakers went on the last recess, Akpabio had a gaffe. He spoke without considering the presence of camera and microphone. He told his colleagues that the clerk of the house had sent a token into their individual’s account. He withdrew and changed his expression when he learned about his immediate environment.
Nigerians reacted to that issue, but due to the fact that there are always too many things to discuss about the country coupled with hardship worsened by poor governance, the topic has apparently died down.
The Court of Appeal has sacked Adamawa North Senatorial District lawmaker Elisha Abbo. The controversial lawmaker has called a press conference in which he alleged the Senate President Godswill Akpabio of being behind his removal from the office.
Mr. Abbo also told newsmen that the president of the Senate is working to remove four more lawmakers including ex Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu. Analysts rebuked Elisha Abbo for that argument saying that both Adamawa and Akwa Ibom are close only by alphabetical order.
But it’s an issue worthy of note. Why tagging the Senate President to his ordeal. Truly, Godswill Akpabio has denied having a hand in Elisha Abbo’s ordeal. Would one expect him to confirm it? Impossible.
The fact remains the same: Godswill Akpabio has had so many issues within few months into his administration of the Senate.
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