N’Assembly leadership: Deal that fetched Akpabio Tinubu’s endorsement
11th June 2023

More facts have emerged on how President Bola Tinubu endorsed a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for the senate presidency.

Sources close to the President told one of our correspondents on Saturday that the deal to make Akpabio president of the senate was sealed a day before the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress.

The primary, which was held at the Eagles Square in Abuja between June 6 and 8, 2022, had Tinubu, Akpabio and others as aspirants.

“Asiwaju (Tinubu) met with Akpabio a day before the primary and approached him to step down for him. Tinubu said if the former governor would agree, it would send a positive signal to the audience and other aspirants since he (Akpabio) would be the first aspirant to be invited to the podium to speak,” one of the sources said.

According to the source, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the press on the matter, Akpabio agreed but said he needed to know what would be his ‘gain’ since he had resigned as a minister and was not a senatorial aspirant.

“Asiwaju (Tinubu) assured him that he would be supported to emerge as the President of the Senate. As they were speaking, an influential woman (name withheld) also came in. That was how the deal was sealed,” another source stated.

It was also gathered that the outgoing President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, met with Akpabio on the day of the primary to seek his support.

It was gathered that Lawan reportedly told the former minister that he had been anointed as the candidate of both the party and the ‘northern caucus’.

But Akpabio, according to one of the sources, said he had given his words to Tinubu and would not be able to support Lawan’s aspiration.

Sunday PUNCH gathered from other impeccable sources close to the matter that Lawan had not forgiven Akpabio for allegedly snubbing him and, therefore, accused him of ‘bringing the senate into disrepute while serving as the minister in charge of the Niger Delta Ministry’.


In July 2020, Akpabio, who was the Minister of Niger Delta, revealed that some contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission were given to federal legislators, but the chairman of the probe panel practically begged him not to spill the beans.

Meanwhile, ahead of the June 13 inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the ruling APC of plotting to intimidate and arrest lawmakers-elect seen as championing the independence of the legislature.

The party stated this barely 24 hours after boasting that it would leverage the number of lawmakers elected on the platform of opposition parties to determine the leadership of both houses.

A former Governor of Zamfara State and top contender for the senate presidency, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, is speculated to be one of those being targeted for arrest.

Yari had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek an order of court restraining security agencies from arresting him. The court on Monday restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and the Department of State Services from detaining the former governor, pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice.

Yari, who had boasted of having over 65 senators backing his ambition, had refused to support Akpabio, who had been announced as the choice of both the President and the ruling party.

Addressing journalists at the party’s national secretariat on Saturday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said, “Information at our disposal which is verifiable and some of which we got from reports, is that there are attempts by some APC elements to intimidate, harass and threaten lawmakers-elect with a view to influencing the outcome of the election on Tuesday on the floor of both chambers as to who emerges the Speaker and the President of the Senate.

“There are reports of harassment to arrest those people who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of the legislature and who are at the forefront of the need to respect those standing rules that provide that members-elect should elect their leadership without any external influence.

“We have these reported actions and plots to arrest such individuals. We as a party that believes in democracy and had the privilege of ‘mid-wifing’ this democracy of ours for 16 years, recognises the fact that the legislature is an ingredient that is very important and key to the sustenance of democracy. So, we need to raise an alarm.”

https://punchng.com/nassembly-leadership-deal-that-fetched-akpabio-tinubus-endorsement/

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is always ahead of them all and he keeps his word.

The Senate Presidency is sealed and dusted for Senator Akpabio who happened to be at the right place at the right time with a name that ranks first in the alphabetical order of the contestants.

The moment he stepped down, others started following suit and the rest is now history.
Check my signature for free stuffs!

That's how politics is been played
It's only for matured strategists
Permutations, negotiations and alignment.
BAT honours his words and appreciates people.
See how his going the extra mike to ensure his word of honour is fulfilled.
Tuesday is just around the corner.
Let's see who wins .

Asiwaju doesn't rescind on his words. He also compensates loyalty.

Sounds logical.
It is very obvious that Tinubu is supporting Akpabio for Senate President because Akpabio stepped down for Tinubu at the primaries and paved way for Tinubu's emergence as APC candidate.
That's okay. It is Reciprocity.

But as someone who believe in Seperation of Powers and who is greatly opposed to Executive interference in the Legislative, am caught in between the two scenarios of Tinubu deciding for the Legislative arm who should be the Leader (on one hand), and on the other hand, if Akpabio doesn't become Senate President, Yari would be President. What that would imply is that #1, #2, #3, and #4 positions in the country will all be occupied by Muslims. That will automatically means Muslim dominance in govt and further give credence to the Islamization agenda. This is one thing the Muslims will never accept if the situation was reversed.

But it seems the members of the Senate will hijaack the process and go against Tinubu's wish and gang up to support/vote Yari.
This would further fuel the internal crisis within APC. Already El-Rufai and Ganduje are already nursing grievances against Tinubu over appointments to juicy positions. They might try to incite Northern senators to gang up against Tinubu and ensure Yari emerges as Senate President. And going forward, Yari will become an instrument to oppose Tinubu bills.

FreeStuffsNG:
N’Assembly leadership: Deal that fetched Akpabio Tinubu’s endorsement
11th June 2023



https://punchng.com/nassembly-leadership-deal-that-fetched-akpabio-tinubus-endorsement/

Tissue of lies. Tinubu spoke first at the primaries.

It is also instructive that those who prevented the former president and the party from anointing a candidate for the presidency are the same people going about anointing and selecting candidates for position.
The hypocrisy

Damnnn niggar
Rewarding looters that are your friends and suspending those you perceive as enemies

Senate presidency must go to the South Dazzol

Anybody can be senate President except that traitor orji uzor kalu.

I even prefer a Togolese to be the senate President than for kalu to emerge.

Akpabio that has 90 billion misappropriation case with EFCC. Ran NDDC in the most corrupt ways.

Nigerians truly celebrate their oppressors just to spite others.

If Tinubu succeeds in installing Akpabio, Lawan would be a smaller rubber stamp.

That's why Saraki remains the best. Lawan approved all Bubu's borrowing that took Nigeria from 12trillion that GEJ left it to 77 trillion. That's what APC and Tinubu wants to replicate with Akpabio but thank God the Supreme Court will sack Tinubu

Ashiwaju Jagaban Presido

Ok

In wicked Wike's voice "Agreement is Agreement"

Only in Nigeria,,

Known looters regroup in order to reloot the treasury and the would-be victims of the looting are happy and clapping for them.

MisterBanny:
Senate presidency must go to the South Dazzol

A Christian Southerner for balance IMO.

It's all politics of interest. Buhari govt almost turned Akpapio a whole uncommon governor to common minister.

Una been de waste time

De shout obidient

Unam ikot

Akpabio na Senate president
Outside Nigeria and inside Nigeria

Nice write up...

Analysis

You can't read and understand.

The analysis explained that since his name would also be first on the list to speak.

So, as he stepped down, Akpabio needn't to speak anymore.

I hope you understand that.

Kukutenla:

Tissue of lies. Tinubu spoke first at the primaries.

It is also instructive that those who prevented the former president and the party from anointing a candidate for the presidency are the same people going about anointing and selecting candidates for position.
The hypocrisy

Tr

Kukutenla:

Tissue of lies. Tinubu spoke first at the primaries.

It is also instructive that those who prevented the former president and the party from anointing a candidate for the presidency are the same people going about anointing and selecting candidates for position.
The hypocrisy

The same people who were against Muslim-muslim ticket are the same people in support of a Muslim candidate as Senate president simply because of Tinubu's choice of interest, inorder to go against him. What kind of hypocrisy is this?

If Akpabio were to be a Muslim and Tinubu's choice the out cry from all of you would have been ISLAMIZATION.



HYPOCRITES

tunjijones:
Anybody can be senate President except that traitor orji uzor kalu.

I even prefer a Togolese to be the senate President than for kalu to emerge.

How is kalu a traitor ?
He supported lawan for reasons best known to him just as u are supporting Tinubu for reasons best known to u
U think Nigeria is Lagos where one man decides for everybody
U nor get sense

CharleyBright:
Sounds logical.
It is very obvious that Tinubu is supporting Akpabio for Senate President because Akpabio stepped down for Tinubu at the primaries and paved way for Tinubu's emergence as APC candidate.
That's okay. It is Reciprocity.

But as someone who believe in Seperation of Powers and who is greatly opposed to Executive interference in the Legislative, am caught in between the two scenarios of Tinubu deciding for the Legislative arm who should be the Leader (on one hand), and on the other hand, if Akpabio doesn't become Senate President, Yari would be President. What that would imply is that #1, #2, #3, and #4 positions in the country will all be occupied by Muslims. That will automatically means Muslim dominance in govt and further give credence to the Islamization agenda. This is one thing the Muslims will never accept if the situation was reversed.

But it seems the members of the Senate will hijaack the process and go against Tinubu's wish and gang up to support/vote Yari.
This would further fuel the internal crisis within APC. Already El-Rufai and Ganduje are already nursing grievances against Tinubu over appointments to juicy positions. They might try to incite Northern senators to gang up against Tinubu and ensure Yari emerges as Senate President. And going forward, Yari will become an instrument to oppose Tinubu bills.

which juicy position has Tinubu field that could have gone to Ganduje or El Rufai? Cos? Not possible for any of the two, SGF? That has been reserved for NC, since NW where El Rufai and Ganduje comes from are having two principal officers in the NA. I see no grudge yet base on appointments.

Akpabio presidency will have Tinubu as both the Executive president and Legislative president. We may also have the CJN handpicked by Tinubu. A Nation called Nigeria.

Zxcvbnmghtr:


The same people who were against Muslim-muslim ticket are the same people in support of a Muslim candidate as Senate president simply because of Tinubu's choice of interest. What kind of hypocrisy is this?

If Akpabio were to be a Muslim and Tinubu's choice the out cry from all of you would have been ISLAMIZATION.



HYPOCRITES

Kindly point where I expressed support for a Muslim candidate
Learn to read, assimilate and comprehend before quoting people you hear?

Yemimovich:
You can't read and understand.

The analysis explained that since his name would also be first on the list to speak.

So, as he stepped down, Akpabio needn't to speak anymore.

I hope you understand that.

Wait. What are you saying?

Kukutenla:

Kindly point where I expressed support for a Muslim candidate
Learn to read, assimilate and comprehend before quoting people you hear?

We hear better what people do not say because it is usually louder from the under tone.