Godswill Obot Akpabio The Uncommon President For The Senate

By Desmond Utomwen

Since Nigeria attained political independence in 1960, the country has been in search of individuals with the presence of mind of a servant leaders in the mode of Aristotle’s good citizen. Though a few of them made appearances for the role every now and then, they have always ended up schemed out by political jobbers whose relationship with public offices is only to the extent of the connections they have with the powers that be. Once again, the country is in dire need of a servant leader, one to lead the 10th Senate. As it were, he is expected to be an individual that truly qualified in character, learning and demonstrated capacity. Haven served Nigeria and Nigerians with a proven record of trust and at different levels, Godswill Obot Akpabio is set to play the role. 

Often referred to as the ‘Uncommon Leader’, Sen Akpabio parades an enviable service record that saw him representing not only the people of Akwa Ibom, his home state, but also the entire Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large. An experienced law maker, he also doubles as an accomplished governor and a revered former Minister who dared the Nigerian establishment wolves by accomplishing the long overdue audit of Niger Delta, Development Commission, NDDC. For his effort, accountability has now become a guiding word in the affairs of the commission. 

As Akwa Ibom state governor for eight years, Akpabio turned the state into a massive construction site and left it having one of the best maintained network of very good roads and other infrastructure too numerous to find space here. For the feat, Akwa Ibomites, as the people are fondly referred to, still look back at his era with nostalgia. 

At the senate where he continued serving his people, Akpabio recorded his name in gold. Besides his penchant for always staying true to the course of his Constituency, Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, he also carved a niche for himself as a true son of the Niger Delta, dealing with issues affecting the zone with an uncommon zeal. That is in addition to his uncanny ability to rally his colleagues across all political divides, for good courses. Little wonder the immediate past administration saw it fit to appoint him as the Minister for the Niger Delta, where again, he proved his mettle as the people’s leader. Against one of the most virulent oppositions ever mounted against a genuine move to set the records straight, Senator Akpabio went ahead to conclude an audit which helped to save the commission from being referred as one of the country's corruption cesspots. 

Senator Akpabio wants to serve Nigeria as President of the 10th Assembly. There is hardly a more noble desire for service from an equally noble individual, given his unblemished service record. Already, he has notched up over 100 endorsement from those who matter as far the role is concerned. Even more so, his party, the ruling All progressives Congress, APC, seems to have agreed that he is the right man. However, like the people-centered servant leader that he is, he made it a point of duty to let the people know even as his qualification for the job is beyond reproach. 

Among others, voices South-South are already settled in his choice haven concluded that Sen Akpabio will, as he has done in other offices, become the Upper Chambers' exemplary President, the man who will ensure the Senate become a more vibrant and pro-active legislative chamber, going forward. 

Without any intention to undermine Sen akpabio's other campaigners for the job, he stands head and shoulder above all. That is even more so because his impeccable legislative experience and leadership pedigree are unmatched by any of his co-aspirants. Same goes for his undiluted loyalty to the course of the ruling party for a better Nigeria. He demonstrated a bit of that loyalty at the primary of the party when, without any prompting, he stepped down for the National Leader, now President of the federation, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It demonstrates his grasp of the context of an axiom which states that it takes a leader to recognize another. 

Alongside his integrity, Sen Akpabio also commands great respect across party lines and among his colleagues in the senate, a factor that is very important to the ability of its leadership to pilot the affairs without rancour and acrimony that are almost synonymous to bi-partisan politics.

A trained lawyer and consummate administrator, Sen Akpabio ventured into politics when he was made commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources before assuming office as commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.