A sea of dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu’s wife Oluremi, Governors Umo Eno and Ben Ayade, and Deputy Senate President, converged at the Uyo International Stadium to celebrate Senator Godswill Akpabio’s 61st birthday and formal state reception.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, Oluremi underscored the significance of the occasion, urging all politicians to prioritise nation building above partisan interests.
She commended Senator Akpabio’s exemplary leadership and dedication to promoting democracy and accountability.
Charging other politicians to emulate, the President said it was time for all hands across party lines to be on the deck for nation building as the period of politics was over and paved the way for governance that requires national interest rather than personal or party interest.
He noted that the Senate President has not only shown exemplary leadership which has gone a long way towards strengthening the principle of democracy and accountability, but also promoted the interest of many Nigerians especially the vulnerables in the society.
He said: “At this auspicious occasion of Senator Godswill Akpabio’s 61st birthday, I send warm greetings and heartfelt wishes.This occasion is not only for celebration, but to reflect on the immense contribution he has made to Akwa Ibom and Nigeria as a whole. Under his leadership, Akwa Ibom witnessed remarkable infrastructural development, improved healthcare services and educational growth, poverty alleviation and human capital development as well as transformed the lives of many vulnerable persons
“Senator Akpabio has continued to serve our nation diligently in the Senate. As the Senate president, he has displayed exemplary leadership, fostered unity and promoted the interest of many Nigerians, he is committed to principle of democracy, accountability and good governance.”
In his remarks, the Senate President, Akpabio, appreciated the people who turned up en masse to celebrate with him and said their presence would encourage him to do more and speak more not just for Akwa Ibom People but Nigerians as a whole.
Akpabio therefore used the occasion to clear the misconception that he created an office of the Senate president’s wife saying that such never existed
“There is no office called the office of the wife of the senate president, all these things are lies, the office is in the other room. I have tried to be the voice to the voices not just to my senatorial district but to Akwa Ibom And Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
He also commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives at the Kaduna Bomb blast, and promised to lead other Senators to their homes on Sunday, for a condolence visit even as he promised to render all the necessary assistance to lift the spirit of the families of the victims.
Governor Eno congratulated Senator Akpabio on his birthday and pledged his support for his leadership irrespective of party lines or ethnicity, and enjoined all Akwa Ibom people and other stakeholders to learn how to support one another for the growth and development of the state and the country.
Chairman of the occasion and Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, as an enigmatic leader, whose era as governor, had witnessed uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom and expressed optimism that he would replicate same leadership acumen to foster peace, unity development irrespective of politics party affiliations.
