*Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District Honours Akpabio
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
President of Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has called on Nigerians to continue to be patience with the federal government in the task to fix Nigeria to regain its bridal place as the giant of Africa.
Senator Akpabio stated this at the weekend in Ikot Ekpene during a Welcome Back Reception organised in his honour by his people in Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district of Akwa Ibom State.
Akpabio, who praised President Tinubu’s leadership traits and experience, said that the policies and programmes emplace in the Country by President Tinubu’s administration are pointers that God is on his side to succeed and bring the country out from the deep hole it was plunged into by successive administrations.
According to the Senate President, President Tinubu and his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima were both former governors and senators, the positions he noted, have put them on a good stead to not just understand the plights of Nigerians but also how to solve them.
“His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is deeply committed to fixing the economy of this Country. The policies so far put in place by him show clearly that God is with him and that he will succeed.
“This is the first time in Nigeria that you have a Senator as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator as Vice President, and of course, you also have two of them as former governors. In the Senate, you also have the former governor as the Senate President, so we we all understand the plights of the people. If there’s anything that can be achieved in Nigeria for Nigerians, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will achieve in Nigeria for Nigerians.
“He has done it in Lagos State and today, Lagos State is one of the most vibrant economies in the whole World. So just be patience with him, we met a very deep hole therefore what President Bola is doing is to increase the revenues of this Country as he did in Lagos State in order for Nigeria to take its bridal place in Africa. What we as Nigerians owe him, is prayers” The Senate President stated.
Reflecting on the event, Senator Akpabio applauded his people for honouring him, promising that he won’t take it for granted and would continue to do his best to uplift the standard of living, and be their worthy representative.
He specially thanked the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno for leading members of his cabinet and the entire state executive council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to grace the event as well as the honour done him and his colleagues from the National Assembly when he received them on courtesy call at the Exco chambers of Government House, Uyo.
Senator Akpabio charged Gov Eno, on the need to unite the state across party lines for the continued development and progress of the state and not make his father’s enemies his enemies.
He had earlier described the Governor as a man of peace and an Apostle and disciple of peace, noting, “Akwa Ibom is a very easy state to rule and govern but also a very difficult place to unite.”
“it is a major duty bestowed on you by God to unite the whole state. Let your actions speak unity to the the state. As a governor, I united the state by appointing people into key positions without considering where they came from.
“I want you to unite your people without any political considerations. Even if you inherited a policy that was not in the best interest of the state, have the courage to change it.
The former Governor advised Governor Eno to see himself as a surgeon in governance with three attributes of being brave as a Lion, soft in heart as a maiden and having the eye of an eagle, to see what others can’t see.
“Do not inherit the enemies of your father, make your friends and enemies by yourself and remember always that it is one thing for you to get to the top and you must learn the balancing act in order to remain at the top.
“I want to extend the felicitations of the Federal Government to the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State and I want to assure you that if there is anything the Federal Government would do for other state governments, Akwa Ibom State will also be highly considered for same.” He admonished.
In his address, Governor Umo Eno expressed gratitude to Senator Godswill Akpabio and the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District for the support they have given his administration and the award bestowed on him.
Governor Eno promised to redouble his efforts in bringing dividends of democracy to the people and to showcase Akwa Ibom State as a united State where the people speak with one voice.
his goodwill message, Deputy Senate President, Senator Jubril Barau who led the cream of the National Assembly members to the event, expressed the confidence of the legislators in the capacity of Senator Akpabio to lead them.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu described Senator Akpabio as a jinx breaker who broke the 59-year jinx to be elected as an Executive member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union from Nigeria.
He commended Senator Akpabio for the passage of the South East Development Commission Bill which he said when signed into law will change the development paradigm of the region.
Setting the tone of the event, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, – Gas, Obong Emem Ekperikpe Ekpo, himself from the district, said that the grand reception was thier own special way of telling the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio that they love and appreciate him.
The event, which was chaired by a retired Chief Judge of the State, Justice Godwin Abraham, witnessed millions of Senator Akpabio’s supporters and associates from the state and beyond convage on Ikot Ekpene Stadium for the event.
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