CSOs Oppose Calls For Akpabio’s Resignation

A frontline civil society organisation, Rising Up for a United Nigeria (RUN), alongside its partner pro-democracy groups, has opposed Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s call for the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

During a press interview monitored on TVC News, Oshiomhole insinuated that changes to the Senate Standing Orders were intended to perpetuate the leadership and favour a particular group of persons.

In a press release signed by the National Coordinator of RUN and 17 other pro-democracy groups, Ambassador Solomon Adodo expressed solidarity with the Senate President and commended senators of the 10th National Assembly for standing behind him because of his visionary leadership in steering the affairs of the Assembly in a peaceful and coordinated manner.

“Regardless of the distractions from certain vested interests, the Senate President has remained focused and dedicated in discharging his legislative duties. Calls for his removal are therefore unnecessary and ill-motivated. Nigerians must not allow overambitious politicians to sway their opinions about people of impeccable integrity,” he stated.

The CSOs also thanked the Senate President for building a “strong synergy between the executive and legislative arms of government, which has helped fast-track the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and placed Nigeria firmly among the world’s leading economies.”

The group also criticised Oshiomhole for what it described as his “needless apprehension,” adding that the Senate is an institution above any individual and that its rules and standing orders must remain firm and respected.

“We must respect our institutions, and the Nigerian Senate is one of them. Anybody who cannot abide by the resolutions of the Senate is not fit to be called a senator. Senator Adams Oshiomhole should therefore comply or resign,” the statement said.