Like the proverbial cat with nine lives, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, defied all opposition to clinch the position of Senate President of the 10th National Assembly on June 13, 2023.
His emergence was characterised by high-powered politics, intrigues, and bickering, considering that he was said to have been President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s preferred candidate for the number three position.
He defeated his lone challenger, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara State, after polling 63 votes against the former’s 46 votes. Since then, Akpabio has been navigating the legislative political ship.
But while he is admired by many because of the way he jocularly handles some issues during plenary, he is equally known for making controversial remarks over serious national issues.
‘Let’s be eating while Nigerians protest’
On July 31, 2024, Akpabio, while speaking on a planned nationwide protest over the economic hardship, said he and other members of the National Assembly would be “eating” while they (Nigerians) protest.
He spoke at the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, Youths and Women Group Sensitisation conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The event, organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was broadcast live on a national television station.
During the event, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, said the Niger Delta region was not interested in a change of government in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Akpabio said, “Managing Director, I want to thank you for what you said. You said we are not interested in regime change; let us own this government. Those who want to protest can protest, but let us be here eating.” His remark sparked outrage as many felt the Senate president was mocking Nigerians.
Senate chamber not a ‘night club’
On July 18, 2024, Akpabio told the senator representing Kogi-Central senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, that the Senate chamber was not a night club, therefore, she must be recognised before speaking during plenary.
The senators were debating a bill for an Act to establish National Road Transport Council, sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru (APC Kwara South).
The bill titled, ‘National Road Transportation Council (Establishment) Bill, 2024’, was aimed at “regulating the road transport industry and the transport profession and other related matters in Nigeria.”
But senators were divided during the debate. Opponents of the bill argued that creating the council would be a duplication of the functions of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Vehicles Inspection Office (VIO).
They argued that the bill shouldn’t be passed at a time the government was trying to implement the Oronsanye report by merging some of the agencies with similar functions. But other senators spoke in support of the bill.
When the senate president subjected the bill to a voice vote to determine its acceptance or rejection, many senators said ‘aye’ and many others said ‘nay.’ This happened twice.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had earlier contributed and suggested that the issue of water transportation should also be looked into, to relieve the roads of serious burden stood up again without Akpabio’s permission.
The female Senator said, “Mr President, we don’t want the bill to be killed, we just want a bit of clarification. We don’t want the bill killed, but it should be slightly modified.”
Responding, Akpabio said, “Distinguished Senator Natasha, in the chamber, you have to be recognised before you speak. We are not in a night club.” Senator Natasha responded, saying, “Oh, pardon me.”
Akpabio’s statement was greeted with heavy bashing from many Nigerians, who felt it was derogatory.
And on July 23, Akpabio tendered an apology to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over his “nightclub” comment, saying, “I will not intentionally denigrate any woman. I always pray that God will uplift women. Distinguished Senator Natasha, I want to apologise to you. The interest shown on the social media shows that we have enemies. I felt I should tender a public apology to you.”
Prayers to senators’ mail boxes
On August 7, 2023, Senate President Godswill Akpabio goofed when he announced that funds had been disbursed to senators to enjoy their recess.
He was addressing his colleagues after the Senate had concluded the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees and was about to adjourn the plenary to embark on their annual recess.
Akpabio said, “To enable all of us to enjoy our holiday, a token has been sent to our various bank accounts by the clerk of the National Assembly.’’
However, he was quickly informed by his colleagues that the proceeding was being transmitted live. Upon realising the gravity of his comment, Akpabio swiftly retreated, saying, “I withdraw that statement.”
He then added, “To allow you to enjoy your holiday, the Senate president has sent prayers to your mailboxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return.”
The “holiday bonus” comment came weeks after the lawmakers were allocated funds to support their “working conditions” in an amended 2022 supplementary appropriation act.
Many Nigerians flayed the senate president, saying it was unfortunate that such a statement could be made by him at a time Nigerians were experiencing hardship.
Let the poor breathe
The “Let the poor breathe” comment by Senator Akpabio amidst the prevailing hardship in the country was followed by condemnation also.
Akpabio made the statement during plenary when the Senate passed a resolution to halt an increase in electricity tariff by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in an apparent move to stand with Nigerians.
The senate president said, “The prayer is that, let the poor breathe, and Senator Mustapha has seconded that the poor should breathe. Those who are in support of the additional prayer that the poor should be allowed to breathe, say ‘aye’ and those who are against say ‘nay’.”
The senators responded “aye”, to which Akpabio said, “The ayes have it! The poor must be allowed to breathe.”
But while the remarks generated controversy among Nigerians who viewed it as a mockery of poor Nigerians, Akpabio’s media office in a statement defended him saying, “Let the poor breathe’ remark “was to firmly reject any plan of increasing electricity tariff for Nigerians”.
Return to old anthem as best gift
Also, Akpabio said the return to the old national anthem which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had championed was the ‘best gift for the country and most profound’.
Akpabio had at a joint sitting of the National Assembly with President Tinubu in attendance, said, “Of all the significant things you have done, the most profound is to take us back to our genealogy — the genealogy of our birth — that though we may belong to different tribes, though we may have different tongues, in brotherhood we stand.”
The hasty passage of the bill by the National Assembly to return Nigeria to the colonial national anthem, ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’, was one of the issues that triggered controversies and backlash in the country.
‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, composed by the Britons, was Nigeria’s national anthem from independence in 1960 until 1978, when it was replaced by a new anthem, ‘Arise, O Compatriots.’ The bill to change the anthem, which was simultaneously introduced in the Senate and the House of Representatives, on May 23, received accelerated consideration and passage.
The speed at which both chambers of the National Assembly considered and passed the bill at a time Nigerians were facing challenges of rising inflation and insecurity among others generate backlash.
Many Nigerians questioned the rationale behind the hasty passage of the bill, wondering why it was not subjected to a public hearing, during which various stakeholders would have made inputs.
Analysts speak
Reacting, a political analyst, Chief Jackson Lekan Ojo, described Akpabio’s gaffes as provocative.
He said, “With the senate president’s statements, I can no longer recognise the parliament in Nigeria as the conscience of the public and the sanctuary of the common people, despite their statutory role as representatives of the people.
“It’s becoming unbecoming. It’s demeaning the position of the number three citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Women in another clime could protest because of what he said to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. This is the senate president who said ‘let them be protesting, we will be here eating’. These statements are provocative.
“If characters like this continue to lead this country, there is no hope. I don’t know what the senators are doing about it. It’s an insult to this country and the black race.”
Similarly, a public policy analyst and International Director of Studies at the European Centre for Advanced Professional and International Studies, Lagos, Prof. Anthony Kila, had flayed Akpabio, during a breakfast television show monitored in Abuja, saying his statements were a product of shallow thinking.
Prof Akila said, “I suspect the senate president is living in a world that is very disconnected from the world in which millions of Nigerians are living.
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