SOUTH-SOUTH SENATE PRESIDENCY: THE CHANCES OF SEN. AKPABIO
~Kawuuk Zephaniah Ikpaikor
It's no longer news that the ruling APC, recently met to zone Principal Offices in the incoming Government. The South-South geo-political zone has been zoned, the President of the Senate and House Minority Whip.
Many analyst have tipped former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Sen. Godswill Obot AKPABIO for the nation's 'number 3' job.
Sen. Akpabio , just like every other individual has his short comings and many, may not agree with him certain issue, including his style of politics and preferences.
Personally, I am opposed to his political party affiliation, since I am a member of the PDP. But that has not taken away my admirations and likes about him.
But even his worse enemy, cannot take away from him, the credit of his mastery of the act of politicking, his accurate political permutations and forecasting, his charismatic oratory and negotiations. He knows the game and you must give him the credit.
What then is the chances of him, finally emerging as it has been predicted ?
First, Sen. Akpabio is among few men from the South South who have the ears of the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinibu. Using today's political parlance, Akpabio is one of Tinibu's 'boys' from this region. His equals in the West as the likes of Yemi Osibanjo, Kayode Fayemi, Femi Gbajabiamila, Babjide Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodon, Tunde Fowler etc.
You may also recall that Akpabio was among 10 APC Presidential aspirants that stepped down for Asiwaju during the APC convention mid last year. The stepping down, I should guess should be in exchange for some offer (s).
Secondly, a check on the INEC website shows that, out of the 18 Senators-Elect from the region, APC secured 7 Senatorial Seats in Akwa Ibom -1; Cross Rivers-2 ; Delta -2 and Edo- 2.
Interestingly, among the 7 APC Senators-elect from the region, only Sen. Godswill Akpabio is a returning Senator, the remaining six are all first timers.
The National Assembly, just like the military, has a ground rule of according respect to seniority and in this case, base on the number of times elected into either the Senate or House of Reps.
Going by this rule, Sen. Akpabio is the most senior or using the appropriate legislative jargon, the 'ranking' Senator in the APC from the South -South region.
Thirdly, just like every other job functions that requires experience, Sen. Akpabio has this legislative experience in his favor. During his first stint in the Senate, he emerged as the Senate Minority Leader, during the 8th National Assembly, that ran between June 2015 - June 2019 , though he relinquish this office, following is defection to the from the PDP to the APC in August, 2018.
It therefore can be inferred that barring any last minute, manouvers, power brokering and negotiations, Sen. Godswill Obot AKPABIO is set to emerge as the President of the Senate and Chairman of the 10th National Assembly.
Using his master's, Asiwaju cliche ' it's Godswill Akpabio time' . Emilo'kun !
Akpabio sha, sabi this game oooo !
I will give to him anyday, anytime !
ZEPH- IKPAIKOR, is a public affairs analyst and writes from Port Harcourt.
Obolo got talents
Oboloheritage Cares
We are here to serve ,inspired and give you hope
Obolo/Africa best mathematician award of excellence
https://oboloheritage.blogspot.com/2023/03/iragunima-prevail-paulbest-mathematician.html
1 Comments
This is lovely 🌹
ReplyDelete