Although Senator Godswill Akpabio may have only led the Nigerian Senate as the President for a little above 100 days in the saddle, there’s no doubt that he has demonstrated that he has the steel, ball, intellect and charisma to lead the other 108 senators as their first among equals in the discharge of their legislative responsibilities and other allied functions as enshrined in the Constitution.
Senator Akpabio did not become Senate President by happenstance, he came to the job highly prepared and equipped. In addition, to these, the Presidency has confidence in his ability and intellect, while the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) and his colleagues in the Upper Legislative Chamber all trust his capacity to unify the House and foster and place Nigeria on a sound and robust legislative pedestal.
In the governance and leadership, Senator Akpabio has come a long way, having served at different levels and in different capacities. He was a commissioner in the administration of former Governor Victor Attah where he first demonstrated his uncommon leadership traits based on the way he diligently handled and executed the responsibilities entrusted in his care. Thereafter, he was elected twice as the Governor of Akwa-Ibom state where he showed uncommon transformation in infrastructural development and human capital development unprecedented in the annals of history of the state.
After his tour of duty as Governor, he was elected to the Senate in 2015, where he emerged as the Senate Minority Leader, a feat many considered unprecedented because he was a first-term lawmaker at that time. With his rich pedigree coated in finesses and excellence, it therefore did not come as a surprise when he was elected to lead the minority caucus of the 8th Senate. His colleagues knew the sort of leadership fabric he is cut from, hence the decision to make him their leader.
Senator Akpabio also served as a minister during the second term of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, where he recorded significant achievements. With his extensive and diverse experiences in various government roles, it can be said that Senator Akpabio is among the few Nigerians who possess a deep understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects, not only of the workings of the three organs of government but also of governance at the three levels of government.
His experiential knowledge of governance and pragmatic leadership quotient notwithstanding, impassioned students of political development in Nigeria and those conversant with the intrigues and intricacies of leading the national assembly know that it is no easy task just as it’s no tea party as any slight gaffe on the part of the leadership could trigger the maximum punishment of regime change via impeachment. As a classical student of power himself, the uncommon transformer knows this.
With the foregoing in mind, Senator Akpabio has led the 10th Senate with grace, simplicity, openness, and large-heartedness. Of particular interest was the large-heartedness he demonstrated in the allocation of committee heads among the senators. This allocation was devoid of rancor and lopsidedness, which contrasts sharply with the past when the distribution of committee chairs followed a winner-takes-all mentality. This previous practice used to create tension and unnecessary animosity among senators. Those who were sidelined would often lurk in the background, waiting for an opportunity to seek their own retribution.
Senator Akpabio has also demonstrated his political shrewdness going by the clever way and vivacious manner he expertly handled the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees by President Tinubu, a traditionally solemn legislative exercise which could be turbulent sometimes. But for his tactical intervention and sound people management skills, the screening, in the case of some nominees, could have raised some substantial dust and this might have culminated in the nominees being rejected. It’s on record that the three nominees whose confirmation was declined were based on ‘security reasons’ and not the Senate rejecting them. Yet, the senators had ample time to drill the nominees and to exact commitments from them going forward.
So far, Senator Akpabio-led Senate has maintained a respectable and healthy relationship with the other arms of government, especially the executive led by President Tinubu, like his predecessor in office, Ahmad Lawan. While some cynics and critics may consider this as a weakness, the fact remains that the country tends to be the loser in the long run when the executive and the legislature flex muscles on issues that could be resolved through diplomacy and compromise, where necessary. The Nigerian Senate could not achieve much under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki because of the Senate’s needless and avoidable altercation with the Buhari-led presidency.
One quick way to assess a leader is to see how he carries those within the leadership circuit along with him. Senator Akpabio has been running a collegiate sort of leadership by giving everyone a sense of belonging. He sees the Deputy Senate President and other principal officials in the Red Chamber, including those in the minority caucus co-travellers who deserve to be treated with respect.
Is it too early to predict whether Akpabio will succeed as Senate President? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. But one thing is as certain as the rising and setting of the sun: if the morning tells us anything about the day, then I have a hunch that, all other things being equal, the extraordinary leader and the uncommon transformer will guide the 10th Senate to an Eldorado. What Senator Akpabio deserves from everyone at the moment is their support.
