GODSWILL AKPABIO: A WINDOW OF HOPE FOR NIGERIA DEVELOPMENT
By Nnamdi Nnamani
The Senate President Godswill Akpabio is a truly fascinating leader whose personality, behaviour, and styles of leadership focus on innovative thinking and service delivery to the people. He is a great human being, who has the ability to empathize with people in his tireless effort to help those in need and help society move forward. This great politician is one of the great minds building bridges to connect Nigeria with the rest of the world.
Much has been said and written about his leadership style. In the realm of politics, recent elections to choose the principal officials of the 10th Senate clearly showed his negotiation skills and understanding of national politics.
‘I assure you, Distinguished Senators, that I am mindful of the enormous responsibilities that this position calls for. You will have my cooperation in all matters and our joint efforts will be one of team-work. I extend my sincere hands of fellowship to all of us, including those who, at a time, may have had different opinions regarding the leadership of the Senate. These expressions of differing and opposing opinions and views are but the fabric that democracy is made of. Democracy, ultimately, has to do with choice, and there can be no real choice where and when there are no alternatives.
It is time now to go forward with the task set before us as a collective body – the promulgation of laws and enactments for the well-being and security of the country and as a check on the executive arm of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in our oversight functions. Together, we shall reach and surpass the expectations of the Nigerian people regarding us, and our roles in building a better, safer, more inclusive, prosperous, efficient and ethical country.’
This Senator Akpabio reaching out to fellow senators during his inaugural address as Senate president. From this address, one needs to acknowledge Akpabio as an inspirational leader with strong commitments to nation-building and service to our country.
He is a champion for consensus-based decision-making. The former Akwa-Ibom State Governor and Senator representing Akwa-Ibom North West, Godswill Akpabio emerged as President of the Senate on Tuesday, June 10th, 2023. In a chamber of 109 senators, the former Minority Leader in the eighth Senate polled 63 votes to defeat his rival from Zamfara West, AbdulAziz Yari, who scored 46 votes.
For the office of the Deputy President of the Senate, the All Progressives Congress (APC) favored candidate and senator representing Kano North, Barau Jubrin was elected unopposed. Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal, presided over the session which commenced a few minutes after 8 am. Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, nominated Senator Akpabio for the office of Senate President and was seconded by Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West); senator representing Adamawa North, Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo moved the nomination for Senator Abdul Aziz Yari.
His election campaigns on the floor of the senate were run on national cohesion. This phenomenon encouraged the other senators to vote in support of him, for good reasons. He is one of those men who knows well how to influence their worlds, and can do something innovative in the realm of leadership. Thus his leadership of the Senate is a great opportunity for Nigeria in the realm of peace-building, national cohesion, and business, particularly for young people.
A leader with both leadership acumen and an ability to navigate shifting winds while remaining true to his core principles. During his time as governor of Akwa Ibom state, Senator Godswill Akpabio wrought great wonders, popularly referred to then as ‘uncommon transformation.’ He made enormous imprints on development and the local political scenes. He also looms large through his services to the people of the South-south as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). All his experience in these services to the people have also shaped him for bigger national service.
Many admire his outstanding contributions to the development of Akwa Ibom state. One of these is Mr. John Ekpo. ‘During Akpabio’s time, Akwa Ibom did see,’ the old man says, beaming, ‘an uncommon transformation’ from a state that had produced mainly civil servants and home helpers to a place with a ‘new economic ambience.’ His administration had such legacies as free education, gas-fired power plants, and grand plans for a petro-chemicals complex and a new deep-sea port. He put down massive infrastructure to make the state attractive to investors and local businesses alike. He touched several sectors of the economy and poured money into education, health, and development.
He knows that development doesn’t come by accident. It comes by taking appropriate actions. It comes by investing in human capital development, growth, and development. It also comes by being committed to the growth and development of society as well. Mr. Ekpo says Akwa Ibom state is very lucky to have this kind of man as governor. He was really serious about the issue of human capital development. To him, the development of human resources is a vital asset to the state for strategic reasons, planning, and development in all sectors. And as in Singapore, Japan, and Dubai, where natural resources are scarce, he felt Akwa Ibom can use human brains to work the soil and the environment to meet the world standards within a limited timeframe.
Generally, many states have to catch up with the National Government Vision and the Medium Term Strategic Development Plan by preparing our young elites to achieve Provincial Development Goals efficiently and effectively. Akwa Ibom did more of this then, especially in the area of education by investing in human capital development, health, agriculture, and education as priority areas.
Nigeria will find Senator Akpabio an important asset at its disposal to achieve its development goals. Furthermore, any and all businesses that deal with people’s management and development of human resources should be tightly watched and given to accountable individuals with notable track records. It is important to assess one’s worthiness – both in terms of political and professional qualification as well as moral conduct, capacity, people’s management, and leadership skills.
His leadership and administrative qualities are distinguished by his passion and commitment to the service of nation-building. Thus, his imprint on the Nigerian political scene is huge. To him, we have to start to do everything within our power to educate our children to understand spiritual, moral, and ethical values. We must help to develop childish curiosity into analysis, so wise choices can be made. We must guide our children spiritually and help them understand conscience and responsibility. And we must help them celebrate their unity as one people within the glittering birthright of their nation’s cultural diversity. For if they enter adult life armed with such weapons, Nigeria need hold no fear.
As such, we should understand that growth and change are two important things that we must apply in our own lives. To be successful and effective we need to make a conscious effort to grow and change to be better than the previous days, previous months, and years. To move forward and achieve great results demands growth and change on our part. Senator Akpabio knows this secret very well by investing so much in the development of Akwa Ibom state as governor. He is a man who sets standards leadership so high for our future Leaders to strive for.
He is a man well versed and well -read even beyond his sphere of influence – a leader, an innovator, and somehow a teacher. He is a larger than life character, committed to advancing the flourish of development and civilization, a man who gives his all to this country and humanity.
In a statement released that election Tuesday, Professor Sulaiman of the Institute of Legislative Studies hailed the election of Senator Akpabio and other officials as a remarkable achievement and a testament to their exceptional leadership and invaluable contributions to the development of Nigeria’s parliamentary institution. He expressed confidence that, under their capable leadership, the Legislature would be significantly strengthened to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities.
Professor Sulaiman assured them that the Institute of Legislative Studies, being the only statutory agency mandated to provide capacity building and related support to the Legislature, was fully prepared to offer sustained technical and specialized assistance to their offices and the National Assembly as a whole. ‘We have full confidence that, under their guidance, the National Assembly will serve as a beacon of hope and progress. Their strong leadership skills, sound judgment, and unwavering commitment to democratic principles will guide the National Assembly in addressing the pressing issues facing our nation and ensuring that the voices of the people are heard,’ he affirmed.
Akpabio is an accomplished political powerhouse, blazing new frontiers. He has become one of the leading lights, making impressive contributions to development nationally and globally, offering a window of opportunity to so many, moral and social support to society, reaffirms our faith in humanity, and our hope in the greatness of Nigeria.
