Akpabio @61: Examining His Leadership, Frankness in Conflict Resolution

Sunday Aborisade examines the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio’s leadership qualities and humorous disposition to settling seemingly difficult intra-chamber and national conflicts

The emergence of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on 13th of June, 2023, was not only seen as a great step for the All Progressives Congress (APC), but a giant stride for Nigeria, where Akpabio has remained relevant for over 16 years.

Having served as Commissioner for six years in three key ministries, as governor for two terms, Akpabio was chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, (PDPGF), and as Senate Minority Leader as a first timer.

He was later Minister of Niger Delta Affairs before his emergence as Senator in March 2023, after he had stepped down as presidential aspirant to support the aspiration of now President Bola Tinubu.

Akpabio’s vast experiences acquired in all the public offices he had occupied, brought a whole lot to the National Assembly, the federal government and Nigerians in general and this was part of the reasons his aspiration for the office of the President of the 10th Senate got the endorsements of the Presidency, the leadership of the APC and the 63 Senators who voted for him.

Akpabio, brought his wealth of experience to bear in the way he constituted the Senate Committees and the appointments of Committee Chairmen. The development had laid to rest, the usual crisis that usually followed such an exercise in the previous National Assembly sessions.

Akpabio has been providing leadership by patiently and humorously coordinating the different tendencies within the Red Chamber to ensure stability.

In appraising the Senate President’s uncommon leadership qualities, Senator Basheer Lado, Convener of the APC Non-Serving Senators, commended him for his exemplary disposition in the composition of Senate Committees.

Lado said, “the strategic composition reflects a remarkable display of leadership, inclusivity, and commitment to the overall progress and welfare of our great nation.”

Akpabio’s major challenger for the office of the President of the Senate, Abdulaziz Yari, also noticed that the former Akwa Ibom governor had exhibited selfless leadership traits when he publicly described him as a selfless leader, after he dropped the gavel against the wish of the leadership of the Senate on the Senator Adams Oshiomhole face off with some senators.

The Akpabio-led Senate had also displayed a rare disposition of nationalism quite early into the his Senate Presidency when it was confronted with a looming challenge occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the President and the threat of a mass protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.

Represented by Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, the Senate leadership was unequivocal about its commitment to ensuring that the system continues to run smoothly and that the interest of workers and the generality of Nigerians are respected by the Executive arm.

In what would go into the history books as one of the most impactful interventions that thawed the ice of the federal government-Labour Union face-off, the Senate had asked for seven days to wade into the crisis and in those seven days, the warring parties were, indeed, able to reach a compromise and avert what would have been the mother of all protests.

The Senate under Akpabio, apart from intervening in the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress  and Federal Government industrial face off, also played a major role in bringing to an end the strike and planned public protest by the members of Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

In the same vein, Senate moved vehemently against the planned increment of electricity tariff by the electricity distribution companies in the wake of the removal of fuel subsidy, through a well endorsed motion which saw to the stoppage of the tariff increase.

He brought his humour to bear on the occasion with an additional prayer which states that the Discos should allow the masses to breath.

Although the social media commentators went to town with the narrative that the Akpabio was mocking Nigerians but the impact of the motion was immediately felt by Nigerians as the planned tariff was immediately halted.

It is also interesting to note how the Senate President oversaw a seamless and smooth screening and confirmation of ministers, who will work with President Tinubu to bring about the Renewed Hope Agenda promised Nigerians. 

Unlike previous screenings, where thoroughness and excellence were sacrificed on the altar of partisanship, Senator Akpabio ensured that he guided the Senate to offer qualitative screening while not hurting party loyalty and other democratically-lawful tendencies associated with such screenings.

When it was time for confirmation, the Senate leadership demonstrated an uncharacteristic courage in ensuring that the screening was not a mere academic exercise, as it also went ahead to turn down some nominations based on findings from the screening exercise. In the end, only 45 of the 48 nominations sent by the president were confirmed by the Senate. That is the kind of courage for which Akpabio has been renowned over the years.

In the words of his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, “Everywhere Akpabio had been, his penchant for etching his name in gold and emblazoning his excellent leadership identity on the hearts of the people has become a major credential that makes those who believe in him insist on him as the go-to man whenever tough leadership decisions are to be made.

“Never one to shy away from taking initiatives in the interest of his people, what the former Governor of AkwaIbom State started by redefining governance in AkwaIbom and setting a major template for governors in terms of infrastructure development and people-centric leadership has become an identity that weathers all storms.

“Also emblematic for the President of the Senate is his burning desire to make Nigeria work. 

“Even when he had to take personal risks, as was the case when he was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and he had to visit Tompolo in the creeks, to broker peace in the interest of the nation, Akpabio has remained the shining example of courageous leadership.

“While campaigning to occupy his current position, he had promised Nigerians that the National Assembly under his watch would work for Nigeria and Nigerians and would rubber stamp anything that would be in the interest of the generality of Nigerians.

“His disposition and handling of the affairs of the Senate in the last five months has shown that he is not in any way prepared to deviate from that solemn pledge to Nigerians.

“As the President Tinubu administration goes on, the Presidency and, indeed, Nigerians can look forward to a stable, purposeful Senate that will work hard on its own end of the bargain to ensure the success of the Renewed Hope mandate of the President.

“But there is something else they should look forward to; they should expect a courageous Senate leadership, one that will put the Executive arm on “its toes” in the overall interest of the Nation.

“In Akpabio, Nigerians have a fearless leader, who will put his feet down when need be for the common good of the Nation; an uncommon leader, who will achieve uncommon feats as President of the 10th Senate.”