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Tag: Godswill Akpabio

  • Omo-Agege reacts after Akpabio emerged as Senate President

    Omo-Agege reacts after Akpabio emerged as Senate President

    As his term as Deputy President of the Senate ended on Tuesday, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who represented Delta Central in the 9th Assembly, congratulated Senator Godswill Akpabio who emerged the new President of the upper legislative chamber.

    Omo-Agege who is also the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial poll in Delta State also felicitated Senator Jubrin Barau who emerged as the Deputy President of the Senate.

    Omo-Agege also sent his felicitations to Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbass who is the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    Similarly, he congratulated others who emerged principal officers in both arms of the National Assembly.

    For Senator Ede Dafinone who succeeded him as the representative of Delta Central in the Senate, Omo-Agege extolled his virtues, doggedness and vision, assuring the district and Delta State that Dafinone is coming with the determination to make the National Assembly more responsive.

    Also, Senator Omo-Agege congratulated Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (Delta South), who he described as a thorough professional desirous of serving the people of the Delta South Senatorial district.

    Omo-Agege expressed confidence in the leadership qualities and drive of Akpabio, stating that with him at the helm, the National Assembly is in safe and reliable hands to compliment the executive branch in charting a new course for Nigeria.

    According to a press release issued by his Media Adviser, Mr. Sunny Areh, Omo-Agege sought the cooperation of Nigerians for the 10th Assembly, noting that the great and diverse representation bodes well for the country.

    “The fact that we now have more political parties with significant representation in the National Assembly bodes well for the country. I believe this will make the 10th assembly more robust and inventive. And with Senate President Godswill Akpabio steering the ship, federal lawmakers will more positively engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in giving the people greater hope for the future”, Omo-Agege stated.

  • 10th NASS: What Senator Godswill Akpabio said after emerging Senate President

    10th NASS: What Senator Godswill Akpabio said after emerging Senate President

    The new President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has said the 10th Senate will work to renew hope of Nigerians via people oriented legislations, given the current state of the nation.

    Senator Akpabio especially said the Senate under his leadership will put members of the executive on their toes, particularly the ministers, when they are appointed and follow project by project.

    He said the Senate will also ensure improved revenue stream and proper oversight of MDAs to reduce waste of resources.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Akpabio said this shortly after his election as President of the 10th Senate.

    According to him, the country is at a crossroad, grappling with lots of challenges.

    “We have just Inherited an economy that requires renewal, revitalisation, and I want to thank our President, Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for steps taken so far that have given a lot of hope to the entire Nigeria Federation and West African sub region,” Akpabio said.

    He said the Senate would try its best to make laws that would ensure foreign direct investment into the country .

    He said the Senate would pay attention to issues relating to persons with disability and the vulnerables via engagement of legislative action that would bring about empowerment to stop youths from been recruited into banditry, unknown gunmen, Boko Haram among other vices.

    “We will pay attention to insecurity to ensure that our roads are free for people to travel to any parts of the country.

    “We will expand legislations to improve the revenue stream of the country, our current president has a track record to improve revenue of the country.

    “We are here to do our national duties. This Senate is about Nigeria and Nigerians, so long as the policies that comes to this chamber is about empowering Nigerians,we shall dwell and deliberate on them.

    “We will work closely with the executive while maintaining the independence of the legislature.”

    Akpabio said he did not believe in politically motivated infrastructure, saying that the 10th Senate would ensure serious oversight functions on MDAs.

    This, he said, was to discourage waste of resources of the country.

    “We will put members of the executive on their toes, particularly the ministers, when they are appointed, we will follow project by project and will do our best in terms of appropriation.

    “We will make efforts to assist the President ensure that we produce what we eat for the prosperity of Nigeria.

    “We must tackle issues that relates to lean sources of revenue, we must emphasis economic viability, social acceptability, tackling environmental issues and therefore bring about sustainable growth.

    “We will provide the required legislative framework and legal environment that will enable President Bola Tinubu to anchor the policies of the government.

    “For the 10th Senate we are going to hit the ground running and make sure that our constituents are proud of us.”

    The Senate  President urged the lawmakers to support good policies and programmes of the Federal Government.

    He commended President Bola Tinubu for removing fuel subsidy, saying that Nigeria must begin to produce its own fuel and encourage production of diesel.

    He said the dreams , aspirations and wellbeing of Nigerians would be at the heart of legislative activities of the Senate and urged Nigerians to pray for the lawmakers.

  • Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Eno congratulates Senate president Akpabio, ask for collaboration

    Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Eno congratulates Senate president Akpabio, ask for collaboration

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has sent congratulatory messages to the newly elected Senate president of the 10th National Assembly ,Godswill Akpabio who is also an indigene of the state.

    Pastor Eno also reiterared his readiness to work with the newly elected senate president in the country.

    .This was contained in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ekerete Udoh on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Uyo shortly after the inauguration of Senator Akpabio as the Senate President.

    Describing the election process as free, fair and credible, the governor said politics was over and now is the time for governance, appealing that all political actors work across party lines for the development of the state.

    The statement read “on behalf of the government and the good people of Akwa Ibom State, I send you our hearty congratulations on your emergence as the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.

    “The process was free, fair and transparent and is a testament to the deepening of our democratic traditions and ethos. I have always said that politics is over and it’s time for governance, and that, demands we work across party lines to advance the cause of our development.

    “We stand ready to work collaboratively with you, to move the needle of development, growth and progress of our dear state in particular and the Nation in general. Once again, congratulations and God’s speed. “

  • BREAKING: Godswill Akpabio elected Senate President

    BREAKING: Godswill Akpabio elected Senate President

    The former governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio has emerged as the President of the 10th Nigerian Senate.

    He defeated his rival, Abdul-Aziz Yari, former Zamfara state governor.

    The election took place this morning June 13, at the National Assembly.

  • 10th Assembly: Akpabio promises stability if elected Senate President

    10th Assembly: Akpabio promises stability if elected Senate President

    Sen. Godswill Akpabio, (APC Akwa Ibom) a top contenders for the Senate presidency, of the 10th National Assembly, has assured lawmakers of stability in the upper chamber if elected.

    Akpabio, gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday, when he led 42 other senators, under the aegis of Integrity Group, to meet with Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the APC National Chairman, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    The APC had on May 8, zoned the Senate Presidency of the 10th National Assembly to the South South in favour of Akpabio.

    The party also zoned the Deputy Senate President to North West in favour of Barau Jibrin (APC Kano) and the Speakership of House of Representatives to North West in favour of Abass Tajudeen (APC Kaduna) and Deputy Speakership to South East in favour of Ben Kalu (APC Abia).

    Akpabio said the visit was to show solidarity and appreciation for the endorsement after wide consultations with stakeholders across the country, adding that now that the elections were over, it was time to begin governance.

    “We are grateful that the party’s leadership gave this opportunity to Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the uncommon senator and his brother, Sen. Barau Jibrin, we will definitely bring growth to this country,” he said.

    He noted it was fair to zone the senate presidency to the South South, as the region last produced a Senate President in 1979, about 44 years ago.

    Akpabio added that since Sen. Bola Tinubu, the President-elect was from the South and the Vice President-elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima was from the North, it was only right that the Senate President came from the South.

    He assured that the 10th Senate would be totally different from others, adding that the integrity group would visit chairmen of other political parties that made up the in-coming Senate for their imput and advice.

    Akpabio, while noting that the integrity team was poised to bring change, said the APC leadership should appeal to other party members to support its zoning decision.

    “When I was young, I was told about the three Gs one should fear. One is God, then the Gun and the Government.

    “Both the Bible and the Quran charges us to respect leadership because that is the only way to progress. We urge you to talk to them because that is the only way to progress.

    “We have interacted with the governors of Lagos, Katsina and even Rivers, to tell them about our plans and policies.

    “We intend to bring stability, as well as to make you proud by putting an end to poverty, insecurity and unemployment, through legislations of supervision and strict oversight,” he said.

    Adamu in his response, said the party was still consulting on issues concerning the leadership of the in-coming assembly to carry everyone along.

    He said the consultations had been fruitful, adding that the final decision however, would be on the floor of Senate.

    “Whatever we do, whatsoever signature we collect, the final decision will be on the floor of the Senate and also the house,” the APC Chairman said.

    On the ongoing agitations, especially from those opposed to the party’s zoning decision, Adamu said that people were bound to hold other opinions, adding that the party had no right to stop them.

    “All these efforts and agitations are very healthy and important.

    “I am happy that we are heeding the advice and directives we gave to make consultations, and it is good that it is going on and I am happy that it has been very fruitful.

    “We will wait till June 3, on the floor of the house. I want us to have a rancour-free election on the floor, because even if everybody says it is Akpabio, the rules of the game say there must be election.

    “Those who are in the Senate are aware of the rules. I do hope and pray that we will carry the day and be victorious,” he said.

    In an apparent reference to what transpired build up to election of principal officers of the 8th Senate, Adamu warned Akpabio to ensure he did not turn up late on the day of the election.

    “But let me warn, don’t be late, because once bitten twice shy,” he said.

    Some of the senators on Akpabio’s entourage were; Olamilekan Adeola, Ibrahim Geidam, Opeyemi Bamidele, Ali Ndume, Gbenga Daniel, and Salihu Mustapha, among others.

  • 10th NASS: APC urged to reverse endorsement of Akpabio, Abass

    10th NASS: APC urged to reverse endorsement of Akpabio, Abass

    A group under the aegis of Renewed Hope Professionals, (RHP) has urged the All Progressive Congress (APC) to reverse the endorsements of “anointed candidates’ in the National Assembly leadership race.

    This is contained in a statement signed by RHP  Coordinator, Mr Kinu Kabirwa.

    The group said that endorsing a candidate violates the provisions of Section 50 sub section 1b of the Constitution.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC on Monday, announced Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Rep. Tajudeen Abass as consensus candidates for Senate President and Speaker positions respectively.

    The group called on the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu to reverse the decision of the NWC to allow for the independence of the legislature.

    They said going by the endowment, the North-West would control two powerful positions in the next political dispensation leaving out North-Central and South-East.

    ”Democracy is now under serious threat with this imposition concocted by the outgoing by the NWC of APC which will further compound the grave political situation in Nigeria.

    ”As a group of professionals with the interest of APC at heart we plead with the President-Elect to immediately nullify this organised crime imposed on lawmakers and allow a free level playing ground for the legislators to pick their leaders.

    “It’s an abberation that must be quickly checkmated before it develops into an hydread monster capable of turning the legislature into an unwarranted war zone over the personal interests of few persons in the party,” the group said.

    They questioned the selection process of the NWC which endorsed Abbas as speaker from a state which produced only four reps-elect.

    ”Was competence, equity, fairness and fairness considered in the scheme of things or it was just an outright imposition to further truncate our shaky democracy?

    ”The above questions are begging for answers,” they said.

    The group said that offices of the senate president and the speaker should not be used for political compensation.

  • Senate Presidency: How Tinubu made me step-down for Akpabio – Umahi

    Senate Presidency: How Tinubu made me step-down for Akpabio – Umahi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has disclosed that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, urged him to step down for Sen. Godswill Akpabio in the race for the 10th Senate’s presidency.

    Umahi made the disclosure on Monday at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Onueke while answering questions from newsmen on arrival to the State from Abuja.

    The governor said that he discussed the issue of his senate presidency bid with Tinubu and had to accede to his request in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the South East zone.

    “I discussed the issue with him when he was in Paris and on return to the country, he invited me. It was an honour to be invited by the president-elect and he told me that he had made commitments.

    “It is his right as the president-elect to make commitments and anyone running for such office makes promises. I did not want to be a clog in the wheel of his progress so I accepted,” he said.

    Umahi said that his withdrawal from the race was in the interest of the south east as it could no longer continue to be in the opposition.

    The governor said that he was not aware of any resolution of south east senators to support former Abia Governor, Sen. Orji Kalu for the position.

    “I am the chairman of the Akpabio campaign council and can tell you that we have more APC senators on our side,” he said.

    He said that he would never lobby to be appointed a minister in the incoming administration but leave the decision to destiny, Tinubu and the party.

    “I will accept whatever God wills for me but as a person, I will prefer to be in the senate to rest.

    “I will however, have no choice if it is the sacrifice to make in the interest of the party, south east and to help the president-elect,” he said.

  • Senate president: Rufai urges Yari to step down for Akpabio

    Senate president: Rufai urges Yari to step down for Akpabio

    The Vice President, Nigerian Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council, Balarabe Rufai, has called on Sen. Abdulazeel Yari to sheath his sword and accept the position of APC on Sen Godswill Akpabio as Senate President.

    Rufai who is also the immediate past National Co-ordinator of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) made the call in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    He called on Yari to allow the  position of his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of his President-elect to come into play and not seek to contest for the position.

    According to him, in view of the ongoing permutations and leadership tussle of the 10th National Assembly, particularly that of the Senate, a decision was taken on Saturday night at the instance of the President-elect.

    “The decison is  that Sen. GodsWill Akpabio should emerge as the Senate President while Sen. Barau Jibrin from Kano State should be his Deputy .

    “This was endorsed by the likes of Sen. Ali Ndume from Borno State, Sen. David Umahi of Ebonyi State, for equity,  fairness, and to balance the positions for national cohesion.

    “However, this  appeared not to go down well with Sen. AbdulAzeel Yari from Zamfara, who on media reports, insists on contesting for the Senate Presidency.”

    Rufai said that would not be good for the nation at the moment when  it needed unity and peace which the president elect  intended  to do for national healing and reconciliation.

    “In this regards, I call on His Excellency, Sen. AbdulAzeel Yari, to sheath his sword and allow the position of his party and that of his President-elect to come into play,” he said.

  • 10th NASS: 60% senators endorse Akpabio as senate president

    10th NASS: 60% senators endorse Akpabio as senate president

    Imran Muhammad one of the prominent members of the All Progressives Party, (APC) on Friday revealed that 60% of senators are behind the former Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio to become senate president.

    According to him, the Akpabio and Barau Jibrin as deputy senate president may likely fly.

    He said Senators supporting Akpabio and Jibrin’s alliance had already penned down their commitments.

    “Over 65 senators were said to have aligned with the Akpabio/Jibrin alliance and had declared their support for them after signing off their commitment as proof they were in on the project”.

    Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the Nation’s lawmaking institution and its members had continued to jostle for leadership positions.

    For the presidential race in the Red Chamber, Akpabio, Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State has been top on the list for Senate Presidency.

  • 10th NASS: South-South Youths, Stakeholders endorse Akpabio for Senate President

    10th NASS: South-South Youths, Stakeholders endorse Akpabio for Senate President

    South-South Youths and Stakeholders have thrown their weight behind Former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio for the exalted position of Senate President of the Nigerian 10th National Assembly.

    The forum called on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, all elected senators and stakeholders to cede the position of Senate president to the south-south geopolitical zone.

    Addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Chief Legborsi Yamaabana, President-General, Ogoni Youth Federation and Chairman, South-South Youths and Stakeholders said Akpabio should be given the top legislative job for the sake of inclusion and national integration.

    According to him ” The region’s last and only shot at the senate presidency was in 1979, when Joseph Wayas emerged under the administration of Shehu Shagari.

    He explained that Akpabio has demonstrated uncommon love by sacrificing his presidential ambition for the unification of his party and supported the president-elect at the APC presidential primary election.

    “He did not only step down for Asiwaju but worked assiduously to deliver Akwa Ibom state and other states of the South-South region.

    “We want to assure the president-elect, that Akpabio’s senate presidency will ensure a healthy and friction-free relationship between the legislature and executive. That our collectively endorsed candidate (Akpabio) is experienced, equipped, and a ranking senator with a deep understanding of legislative procedure and processes”.

    He said the stakeholders from the region have observed with great dismay that no south-south person is heading any of the federal parastatals like the NNPC, FIRS, EFCC, or DPR and therefore called on the in-coming president to consider citizens of the geopolitical zone for strategic federal appointments for the sake of fairness and equity.

    He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for taking steps beyond rhetoric, to ensure that Ogoni clean-up is being implemented, even as he prayed the in-coming administration to re-appoint the minister of environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, saying he has raised the bar of performance.

    ”After taking stock of all the aspirants to the office of the senate president, our son Senator Godswill Akpabio stands out. His sterling qualities and uncommon performance as governor, Senator, Senate Minority leader of the 8th Senate, and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs remain unparallel.

    ”Therefore, we call on other geopolitical zones to cooperate with the south/south region in choosing who becomes the next president of the Senate of the Federal of Nigerian in the 10th NASS” Yamaabana said.