President Bola Tinubu has asserted that having the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, by his corner as a partner and Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker of the House of Representatives was good enough to make him succeed as the leader of Africa’s most populous country.
This was precisely what he said—that a sense of fraternity and a conviction that one nation will lead the other on the correct path—was expressed.
The President spoke at a colloquium held to mark Akpabio’s 61st birthday in Abuja.
Tinubu in his remarks at the occasion described Akpabio as a man committed to the value of national development.
He said, ‘The opportunity you (Akpabio) offered us to listen to the lead speaker and his recommendations will be looked into deeper legislative activities and collaboration with all of us.
“We will work together. While we consider the affairs of this country, the nationhood and the belief in one country will put us on the right path.
“Having you as a partner, and Abbas as the Speaker, is good enough for me to succeed.
“I believe in the person of Godswill Akpabio; he is truly Godswill.”
He added, “I know him as a governor, as a commissioner in Akwa-Ibom. We share a vision even though he was a commissioner, he is extremely inquisitive.
“He transformed Akwa-Ibom tremendously. He built one of the most effective drainage systems in Akwa-Ibom. Today, up till now, no matter how heavy the rain is, you will never find casualties.
“All the other beautiful things you did, the stadium, the hotel, that caring for the lives of the people of Akwa-Ibom, is exceptionally great.
“On this occasion of your birthday anniversary, I’m delighted to join your family, friends, colleagues and Nigerians from across the country in wishing you a long life, good health, peace, satisfaction and gratitude for the abiding grace of God Almighty.”
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Earlier, the guest speaker, former President, Nigeria Bar Association Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), said that for the country to tackle insecurity, peace and security must be developed by first addressing the issue of hunger in the land, which requires urgent attention from all those in authority.
He said, “The first question is how we can find peace. Is it by the armed forces? It will be by executive and legislative processes
“We can’t win, in my opinion, the war by armed forces. So I will suggest to the national assembly to consider the possibility of inviting the ethnic nationalities, the owners of Nigeria.
“The traditional rulers that are being ignored, I believe they have a hand in the constitutional process. If this is done we will achieve peace.
“Together with our traditional rulers who I think are being ignored in the process, we might be able to resolve these Boko Haram, IPOB.”
He further recommended the unbundling of the Independent National Electoral Commission which he said “is doing far too much.
He said, “INEC is doing far too much. In the Uwais report, we recommended creating the Electoral Offences Commission.
“I urge the 10th National Assembly to enact the recommendations simply.
The Electoral Act makes a mockery of democracy, so we can correct that by passing all the recommendations of the Uwais Panel.”
The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Jibrin Barau who was also the host of the event said that the colloquium was the culmination of events to mark the 61st birthday of Akpabio.
He described Akpabio as a leader par excellence who was always willing to give his quota to the development of the country.
On his part, Akpabio said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration “is real and this government is a correcting government.
“Our legislative agenda is going to be people-centred,” he said.
He also said that the national assembly would consider the recommendations spelt out by the guest speaker.
“We have taken note that we should unbundle INEC; we have taken note that we should involve our traditional rulers.
“We have taken note that most of the colonial laws are still in existence by the constitutional law given to us.
“We will work on these things,” he said.
Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen said that Akpabio, throughout his distinguished career, showed valuable assistance, strategic thinking and innovative leadership.
For the Chairman of the occasion and former Senate President, Anyim Pius, Akpabio has a date with destiny.