As Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio marked his 63rd birthday, some prominent Nigerians moved by what they described as ‘’uncommon leadership style’’ nearly spread their cloths on the ground for him to walk on.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu praised Akpabio’s record of public service and his contributions to national development.
In a goodwill message he personally issued on Tuesday, Tinubu described Akpabio as “a patriot and a dedicated servant of the people,” whose commitment to the Nigerian project has remained unwavering across decades of leadership.
The President said Senator Akpabio, who served as governor of Akwa Ibom between 2007 and 2015, left an indelible mark on the state through far-reaching infrastructural development and a bold transformation agenda that earned him the popular moniker “Uncommon Governor.”
Related News:
- Senator Akpabio Sees A’Court Judgment As ‘Victory For Democracy’
- Godswill Akpabio: Uncommon Public Officer Clocks 59
- 62nd Birth anniversary: Abbas, Barau and Eno Felicitate Akpabio
“He made Akwa Ibom a top competitor in the national economy, providing infrastructure and building one of the most iconic stadia in the country,” the President noted, adding that the achievements remain reference points years after his tenure.
From the Akwa Ibom Government House, Akpabio transitioned to the Senate and later served as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, where, according to the President, he prioritised development of the oil-producing region.
Tinubu lauded the Senate President’s efforts to strengthen executive–legislative relations and promote initiatives that advance national peace, security and development since assuming leadership of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023.
“As co-labourers in the service of our nation, I have always admired his strength of character and ability to remain undaunted even in the face of challenges,” Tinubu said, saluting Akpabio’s “unwavering belief in Nigeria and commitment to its progress.”
The President prayed for continued health, strength and impactful leadership for the Senate President, as friends, associates and members of the National Assembly joined in celebrating his 63rd birthday.
In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, congratulated the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, on his 63rd birthday anniversary.
Senator Barau, the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, stated that the President of the Senate has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the legislature.
According to him, the swift passage of executive bills and confirmation of nominees of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, aimed to address the country’s challenges in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a congratulatory message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau commended Senator Akpabio’s dedication to the Nigerian project.
“I join all Nigerians and other well-wishers worldwide in congratulating His Excellency, the President of the 10th Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, on his 63rd birthday anniversary.
“His remarkable journey as a governor, senator, minority leader, minister, and now President of the 10th Senate has been exemplary and groundbreaking.
“Senator Akpabio’s dedication to advancing the legislative arm, robust legislative-executive synergy, and overall nation-building have, indeed, stood him out as a patriotic Nigerian par excellence,” he said.
Pastor Umo Eno, Akwa Ibom Governor wrote ‘‘On behalf of the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State, I join your family, members of the 10th National Assembly, especially Akwa Ibom State Caucus, friends and associates to wish you a happy birthday.
‘‘We are eminently proud of the transformative and collegial manner you are leading the 10th National Assembly, and the unalloyed support you have shown to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as he boldly works to tackle the socio-political challenges facing our Nation, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.’’
According to him, ‘‘Here in our State, we appreciate your support as we preach the message of reconciliation, forgiveness and unity across the State.
‘‘Together, we will continue to Arise to a Renewed Hope and show that Government can I ndeed be a force for the promotion of the common good.
‘‘Happy Birthday once again, Your Excellency!’’
In his message, Dr. Unyime Idem, congratulated Akpabio thus ‘‘Happy birthday, our Leader and President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Godswill Akpabio, GCON.
”Enjoy more years of good health and sound mind.”
Dr. Anietie Ukpe, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, wrote ‘‘There are few spectacles more entertaining, more deliciously satisfying to the public imagination, than the annual misery of men and women who spend their lives forecasting another man’s downfall—only to watch him rise, year after year, like a well-trained phoenix defying all known rules of gravity.
This, in brief, is the tragic annual opera that befalls the undistinguished fraternity of Senator Akpabio’s enemies when the nation celebrates his birthday in style.
Every December, as the clocks prepare to honour his birthday, these few professional mourners and tribal bigots gather in silent, despondent clusters in their natural habitats (comment sections, beer parlours, WhatsApp groups, and other centres of deep intellectual hollowness) with faces long enough for one to hang Christmas lights on them. They are astonished that the man they buried in their imagination last year is not only alive but thriving, smiling, and receiving more honours than they receive electric bills.
”To them, Akpabio’s stupendous and monumental success is a personal insult – an intolerable inconvenience.
”They have plotted, predicted, conspired, made false accusations and—on particularly theatrical nights—thrown tantrums in public places and at the same time whispered their hopes into the darkness. Yet Providence, in its fondness for irony, repays their spiritist and political aerobics with breaking news announcing Akpabio’s latest victory. The result? And so they sit, stupefied, like scholars who studied the wrong syllabus.
”One must almost pity their poor souls. Nobody suffers quite like a man who wakes up daily to discover that the subject of his pathological envy is success itself.
But these fellows ignore a basic truth that even a child in Sunday School could recite: the Bible warns that he who digs a pit will, in the fullness of time, be the one to test its depth. Yet they keep digging with the enthusiasm of unpaid interns desperate for relevance. And like Haman—who constructed gallows only to discover he was booked as the inaugural occupant—they erect elaborate contraptions of malice, blissfully unaware that Providence has already engraved their names on the commemorative plaque.
They also forget that envy tossed Daniel into the lions’ den, but grace escorted him out untouched. Envy hurled the three Hebrew children into the furnace, but grace walked them out without the smell of smoke. Envy nailed our Lord Jesus Christ to the cross, but grace rolled away the stone and brought Him forth in majesty and splendour.
If Akpabio were to walk across the River Niger tomorrow, these fellows would complain that he had splashed water on their shoes.
Their gloom now deserves a documentary. They expected collapse. They rehearsed the dirge.
Some even notified their tailor for a mourning outfit in advance.
But every year brings the same unpleasant surprise. A stronger Akpabio. A louder celebration. A longer list of accomplishments.
And a spotlight that refuses—stubbornly, impolitely—to dim.
Meanwhile, the man at the centre of their misfortunes continues his work: smiling broadly, leading firmly, achieving steadily—completely unaware of the emotional cholesterol clogging their hearts.
And they, poor souls, sit in their tents of lamentation, chewing the bitter kola of self-inflicted frustration. For in the petals of history, no comedy equals the anguish of those who wagered everything on another man’s failure—only to discover too late that envy is a diet that starves the eater.
And so, as Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio marks his 63rd year, the spectacle continues: he rises, and they sink; he smiles, and they gnash; he advances, and they hold emergency meetings with their sadness. History marches on, indifferent to their complaints. Providence writes its own script, unmoved by their sour commentary.
For in the end, one truth remains eternal: “O thou man of evil, thou shalt fall by thine own mischief; for the pit thou hast digged shall take thee.”
A fitting benediction for the industry of envy— and a quiet reminder that grace, not grievance, decides the final score.’’
Born on December 9, 1962, Senator Akpabio clocks 63rd on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
