Senator Godswill Akpabio has assured to hold robust discussions and public sittings before passage of bills into law for Presidential assent towards improving the living standards of Nigerians.
Senator Akpabio, speaking with journalists after dinner with Solidarity Group at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, dismissed the idea of the executive arm of government turning the Red Chambers into rubber stamp.
The Stability Group with more than 70 Senators-elect is rooting for emergence of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau leadership of the Senate on June 13.
Also read: Akpabio’s Senate Presidency receives major boost
Akpabio said the dinner was organised by the leadership of the group for members to further deliberate on how to collaborate with the President Tinubu administration for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.
‘‘Today’s meeting is a continuation of the one earlier held at the Frazer Suites. We believe that it is important we continue to bond together because God has put us together for the next four years to work for the benefit of Nigerians in the 10th Senate,” he said.
The former Senate Minority Leader noted, “We believe that every Senator irrespective of his or her political party is first and foremost a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
On the allegation that the Senate under his leadership would be a rubber stamped one, he said, “The answer is very simple. In America, the Vice President is the presiding officer of the Senate and does that make them a rubber stamp? We would look at issues thoroughly and even the Executive would be happy. We will hold robust discussions and public sittings before we come up with any bill for presidential assent towards improving the living standards of Nigerians.”
Akpabio stated further that, “The 10th Senate is made up not only men and women of high integrity but people of diverse experience and they are bringing all these to bear for the benefit of the incumbent administration of President Tinubu.
‘‘We will not be a rubber stamp Senate rather we will rubber stamp whatever is good for Nigerians and what Nigerians want. Things would change in Nigeria for good under this administration and that is our promise to Nigerians. Be assured that we shall succeed by the special grace of God.”
On allegation of corruption against him, the former Akwa Ibom Governor stated that as a politically exposed individual, he was expectant of all those innuendoes saying, “the allegation against me is that when I was governor, I showed love to all and sundry; that I declared free and compulsory education for all Nigerian children who were resident in Akwa Ibom State.
“I am being accused because I love God so much that I assembled the largest choir in the world to sing to God and broke the Guinness Book of world record. I was an uncommon performer as a governor, through the execution of landmark projects totalling over 500 that I could not even commission before I left office.
“There is no politically exposed person that people will not throw innuendo at. Allegations would continue to go after politically exposed persons of high calibre. You don’t look at all those, you look at my track records,” he declared.
Earlier, Senator Jibrin Barau had countered the alleged withdrawal of support for the election of Senator Akpabio-Barau ticket by Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and All Progressives Congress (APC) as existing in the minds of cynics.
Tinubu and APC had endorsed Akpabio and Barau as the Senate President and Deputy Senate President for the 10th National Assembly.
Barau described the rumour of the joint ticket being jettisoned by President Tinubu as wishful thinking by those who are scared of the ticket.
According to him, “The APC is the largest party in Africa. It is a respected party whose words are its bond. There is nothing like the president and the party have backed out of their support for us. The APC is a very serious and respected party.
‘‘The alleged withdrawal of support by the President only exists in the minds of those who are yet to come to terms with the position of the party on the national assembly leadership is final and sacrosanct,” Barau stated.
