he 2023 general elections seems to have given the people of the south-south geo-political zone the much needed opportunity to climb the ladder of power once again. There is   a glimmer of hope in project Nigeria, with the emergence of Rt, Hon Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio as the number three citizen in the country.                      

The enviable seat of legislative power was last occupied by an indigene of this divide in 1979 by late Dr Joseph Wayas between 1979 and 1983. Late Wayas, no doubt commanded legislative authority with candour and to the envy of all with an unimaginable political deft touch.

Though mother luck later propelled ex-president Ebele Goodluck Jonathan to the summit of political power in the land, the south-south people however had a bad date with history as they  neither reaped the benefits of such august opportunity like the entire north did under the watch of former president Muhammadu Buhari, nor were they allowed by the uncanny power cabal to play the commanding heights usually associated with such high office like the south west geo-political zone are already positioning themselves to do under president Tinubu’s tenure.

However, this paper does not encourage nepotism and cronyism, but in our clime such style of governance is hailed by the kinsmen of the Presidency as part of dividends of democracy. Failure to look the side of one's kinsmen and women when in a position of authority as the Presidency is described as abysmal failure and that was the fate of Dr Goodluck Jonathan who like late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, wanted to play nationalistic politics.

Coming back home, the man Godswill Akpabio, from the look of things, appear to have an uncommon date with destiny as his political ascendancy to such a commanding height in so short a time, speaks volumes of what the south-south people stand to benefit under the present scheme of things.

Akpabio on the other hand has within a short period of political adventure demonstrated a rare nurse for heroism and boldness in the face of avalanche of deviant opposing voices, which at most times, either pushes him to swim against the tide of expectations or catapult him beyond all known political permutations. It is hoped that he is ready to understand the gimmicks of political chess board game, 

 His attempt to return to the Senate during the 2019 general elections, on a strange political ticket that was not in tandem with his people political beliefs, took a back bench seat as he lost the bid. Even at that, he did not allow adversity to tear off the wings of hope.

However, if wishes were horses, it would not definitely amount to a doomsday prediction that come 2027 when power is likely to return to the north the partnership of the present Vice President Kashim Shetima and Akpabio for president and vice may not be out of the cards.

But from all intent and purposes, it seems some cabals in the National Assembly (NASS) are not resting on their oars since the emergence of Akpabio's Senate Presidency.

This paper has watched with keen interest some subterranean moves by some NASS members who lost out to Akpabio in an attempt to ally and upset the apple cart of Senate leadership all in the name of balancing act.

We urge all those still aggrieved to sheathe their swords and support the brand-new leaders of the Senate headed by Akpabio and move the nation forward. Drumming the ethnic card and employing all sorts of blackmail against the leadership is uncalled for. Let our norther brothers give the impression that if not them, it cannot be another person. Nigeria belongs to all of us and no tribe or segment should claim superiority more than the other.

This paper states that the South-South zone has taken the right step in the right direction by allying with the power at national level. This paper equally enjoins the South-South stakeholders to queue behind Akpabio and give him the needed support to lead the NASS at this critical time of repositioning the country.