Like the proverbial cat with nine lives, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a 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 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.
Twenty-four hours after refuting reports of an alleged impeachment plot against Akpabio, the Senate on Thursday passed a vote of confidence in him and the entire leadership of the Red Chamber.
Reports of a purported impeachment plot by unnamed northern senators surfaced on social media on Wednesday morning, but both the Senate and Akpabio himself swiftly dismissed it as fake news.
However, during Thursday’s plenary, Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North) rose under Orders 10 and 42 of the Senate standing rules to address the issue again.
Abdullahi emphasised the importance of dispelling the false narrative and clearing the names of northern senators accused of plotting the impeachment.
“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”
“The publication is undermining the context of our democracy and is undermining the capacity of this institution to deliver in the presence of governors of this country,” Abdullahi stated.
He further called for unity, saying, “We must rise and get united under the leadership to ensure that this kind of discourse is completely negated so that the kind of unity we have forged in the last 18 months can be sustained and fully accomplished.”
Abdullahi vehemently rejected the notion that northern senators were involved in any such plot, adding, “For us to be characterised as promoting or supporting anybody to bring the leadership of this institution down is bad and should be disregarded.”
“I have never in my life associated with anybody in order to bring or divide any institution along ethnic or traditional lines. I think this is the work of some enemies, which should be resisted, and all of us should stand united behind the Senate leadership to make sure that this institution is preserved.”
Also, Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), who moved the motion for a vote of confidence in Akpabio and the Senate leadership, also dismissed the report as a fabrication targeting northern senators.
“I move that, on behalf of other senators, we pass a vote of confidence in your leadership and that of the entire Senate leadership,” Ningi said.
Similarly, Ismaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) and Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), supported the motion, which was unanimously affirmed when put to a voice vote.
In his remarks after the vote of confidence, Akpabio expressed his gratitude to the senators for their unwavering support.
“On behalf of my brother, the Deputy Senate President, and the entire leadership, I assure you that the cooperation and bond existing between us and the Senate will continue,” Akpabio said.
“No amount of people, no social media will come here to break that bond. I thank you for this, and we are very humbled,” he added.
He concluded by promising to uphold the trust placed in him and his leadership.
He said, “We are confident that, in the coming months and years, we will justify the confidence you have placed in us.”
However, Tuesday, March 12, 2024 cannot be forgotten in a jiffy as all the items listed on the day’s order paper, which include presentation, consideration of bills and motions were not attended to.
The only matter that came up was a motion of Urgent National Importance, titled “Urgent need to address the false allegations against the Senate and the Presidency on the 2024 Appropriation Act by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central)” and sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, APC, Ogun West on the allegations raised by Ningi of N3 trillion Budget Padding in the N28.7trillion 2024 Appropriation Act.
Ningi also alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year was N25 trillion while the one being implemented by the Presidency was N28.7 trillion.
Adeola, who read a transcribed version of Senator Ningi’s BBC Hausa Service interview, had disclosed that some agencies were not documented in the 2024 budget document.
According to him, these agencies include the Judiciary, National Assembly, INEC, TETFUND, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Government Owned Enterprise (GOE).
At the end of the debates that led to a rowdy session, opening of can of worms especially on funds for Constituency projects, how the sum of N500 million were in the hands of some Senators, while others did not get close to that, thereby suggesting lack of uniformity.
When it was time for the former Deputy leader and the immediate past Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi to speak, he said, “I think Yayi (Solomon Olamilekan) has done a fair job except on some issues that they do not understand.
“I have never said the budget was padded. I have never issued out any of these statements. This is a fake contribution that was forwarded; I do not know the author of this. In the budget Yayi presented to you, I have facts, constituency by constituency, some 12bn, some 60bn, some 30bn some have less than 1 billion.
“As I am talking to you, Mr. President, I do not know your take-home pay. I don’t know how much you are spending on your cars and other principal officers. I have targets just like every other member; I do not know your aides or their numbers. Everything in the budget is my concern.”
At the end of the day, the Senate suspended Ningi for raising the alarm of N3 trillion Budget Padding in the N28.7trillion 2024 Appropriation Act and for claiming that the budget passed by the National Assembly for 2024 fiscal year is N25 trillion while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7trillion.
The Senate also resolved that if Senator Ningi writes to apologise during the period, he shall be recalled to resume his legislative activities having shown remorse.
With his suspension on that day, Senator Ningi joined the league of Senators that have been suspended before now.
Prior to Senate Ali Ndume’s suspension, recall that the Senate had on Wednesday, March 30, 2017 suspended former Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, for six months for not “conducting due diligence” before filing a petition against Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye who was representing Kogi West then. Ndume was indicted for “for bringing Senator Dino Melaye, his colleague, and the institution of the Senate to unbearable disrepute.”
Also, former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, was in April 2018 suspended for 181 days but former President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki pleaded for 90 days and it was unanimously accepted, but the court squashed the suspension.
In 2004, Senator Isa Mohammed, PDP, Niger and Vice chairman of the Senate Committee on States and Local governments, had slapped his Chairman, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, PDP, Ogun State over alleged misappropriation of N1.2 million Senate Committee funds.
Senator Joseph Waku from Benue was also suspended by the senate in 2000 after he stirred a major controversy in the country. The Senator had suggested that a military coup would be preferable to allowing former President Olusegun Obasanjo to continue as a dictator. Waku criticised Obasanjo’s administration, describing it as the worst in Nigeria’s history.
His comments resulted in widespread condemnation and subsequent suspension by the Senate. In 2002, late Senator Arthur Nzeribe from Imo State was suspended indefinitely in November 2002 by then-Senate President Pius Anyim over allegations of N22 million fraud.
Senate and banana peels
But one striking thing that happened on that Tuesday was the revelation by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central who took us down memory lane of banana peels in the Senate from the era of former President of the Senate, Senator Evan Enweren in 1999 to Past President Ken Nnamani in 2007, with former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark putting an end to Banana peels as he was the President of the Senate from 2007 to 2015.
Senator Mark finished successfully while Senator Bukola Saraki whose tenure was characterized by face-off between the executive and the legislature, rounded off in 2019 and Senator Ahmad Lawan did his four years from 2019 to 2023.
Senate leader Bamidele took everyone unawares when he described what happened as a civilian coup.
Bamidele, while reacting to the allegation had said, “I am speaking as Senator Opeyemi Bamidele representing Ekiti, not as a Senate leader to say that Ningi was only fuelling this budget padding allegation to push for a failed civilian coup in the Senate.
“Over 60 senators voted for Akpabio, and over 40 voted against him. That’s the will of the majority. But a few have refused to let the electioneering activities pass them by. They still hold bile, and that is why it is always about Akpabio, never about the Senate, House of Representatives, DG, or Budget. All of us passed this budget, and it was never about Mr President who signed this budget.
“It is always about Akpabio. We have momentum; this is a defining moment for all of us to say if we are going to have a stable Senate.
“It is not about North and South. It is about our rules (the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria). It is about our people who are hungry and deprived. Mr President (Akpabio), make no mistake, some people feel they are not going to give you more than one year to spend on this chair, they want to do everything possible before the 13th of June to remove you.
“I want Nigerians to know for history’s sake that the last time the people of South-South had a chance to be Senate President was 40 years ago. The last time the South had a chance to be Senate President was during Obasanjo’s administration when it went to the South East.
“Five people were elected because they were impeached in quick succession. But as soon as it left the South, we had peace because we (the South) will always cooperate. David Mark spent eight years. Ahmad Lawal spent four peaceful years. Even Saraki, with all he did, spent four peaceful years.
“It is about Akpabio; it is about the South; you can now understand why Senator Ningi will want to use the platform of the Northern Senators Forum to push an agenda even when they disagreed with him. Mr President, I plead with you that this is an opportunity for us to let our rules prevail.”
Many ‘sins’ of Akpabio
Recall that the removal of Senate Presidents always starts from accusations of Constituency funds or Committee funds and lack of uniformity in the sharing formula of constituency funds and composition of standing Committees, especially when some Senators are left out of juicy Committees.
Some Senators are still not happy with Akpabio based on his comment while rounding off a session of the Senate preparatory for a recess, when he mistakenly revealed that money had been sent to senators to “enjoy” their recess. Akpabio, who had forgotten that the proceeding was being streamed live, began to address his colleagues before the adjournment motion was moved at the end of the Senate’s ministerial screening.
“In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly,” he had said.
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, 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.
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 the 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 and Vehicles Inspection Office.
They argued that the bill shouldn’t be passed at a time when 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 social media shows that we have enemies. I felt I should tender a public apology to you.”
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.
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 in an apparent move to stand with Nigerians.
“I suspect the senate president is living in a world that is very disconnected from the world in which millions of Nigerians are living”
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”.
Also, Akpabio said the return to the old national anthem which President Bola 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 generated 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.
Reacting, a political analyst, 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 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, Anthony Kila, had flayed Akpabio, during a breakfast television show monitored in Abuja, saying his statements were a product of shallow thinking.
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.”
Also, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, in a statement on Wednesday, dismissed speculations about Akpabio’s removal.
Lado said the presidency is committed to ensuring a mutual relationship and understanding between members of the National Assembly and the Federal Government.
