10th Senate: Akpabio coasting to Victory
As the race for who becomes the resident of the 10th legislative assembly thickens, support and good will for Senator Godswill Akpabio has increasingly swollen in recent times, tipping him as favourite for the coveted position. Since Akpabio indicated interest in the red chamber's top spot, his ambition has enjoyed an outpour of goodwill across party lines, political groups, geopolitical zones and indeed the generality of Nigerians. The latest, among the gamut of supporters, backing Akpabio's bid for Senate Presidency, is a political support group known as National Coalition for Progressive Change (NCPC). The group which had, in a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Sunday Michael and Felix Umeh, respectively, recently, congratulated the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the resounding victory inthe just-concluded general elections and described Akpabio as "a man fit for the job." The group reminded Nigerians that "Akpabio, as a former governor of Akwa Ibom, performed creditably and heralded the transformation of the hitherto passive State into a prosperous economy and a reference point in the comity of Nigerian states." Making reference to the lawmaker's first stint in the Senate where he held the sensitive position of Minority Leader, the NCPC highlighted Akpabio's nationalist disposition by recalling how, in his legislative contributions, he placed national interests above party inclinations. Basing their position on the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the body said the south-south, being one of the geopolitical zones yet to occupy the seat since 1999, the group maintained that the zone should be given consideration, with Godswill Akpabio "a perfect fit for the job, given his wealth of experience as a two-term governor, a minister, and now a high ranking senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." Similarly, the Converner, South-South Youth Alliance, Comrade Richard Romanus, had in an article titted EFCC re-opening of Senator Godswill Akpabio's case: A call for caution and circumspection, repudiated Sahara Reporters’ objectivity in propagating reports that tend to damage the reputation of the Akwa-Ibom-born legislator. Romanus also questioned the integrity of the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for its unconscionable track record of always revisiting Akpabio with allegations of misappropriation of funds, dismissing such ploy as "witch-hunting." "We are extremely worried about the circumstances surrounding these constant invitations by the EFCC and the timing. We recall that these allegations date back to 2015, following a petition to the commission by one Mr. Leo Ekpenyong. More worrisome is the fact that the EFCC has seemingly mastered the art of revisiting the case against Senator Goodwill Akpabio once there are signs that the lawmaker is pursuing a political interest. EFCC has resurrected the case, yet again, at a time he is gunning for the position of the Senate President, which makes one wonder why the EFCC appears to be alive to its duties only when there is a political interest to be pursued,” Romanus’ article read in parts. "We enjoin the Commission not to present itself as hatchet men, ready to do the bidding of a negligible few which is at variance with the yearnings and aspirations of the vast majority of Nigerians, earnestly praying for Senator Goodwill Akpabio to become our next Senate President," the article conclusively cautioned. Senator Akpabio is the leading contender for the Senate President, having just recently, been chosen as the consensus candidate for the position by stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
