Senate: More Trouble For Akpabio, Accused Of Running One-man Show

Trouble seems to be courting Senate President, Godswill Akpabio like his own shadow.

Two months after his colleagues threatened to impeach him after he openly said in the chamber that money has been sent to senators’ accounts to enjoy themselves, he has been accused of running a one-man show.

“In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly,” Akpabio said on August 9, while presiding over the chamber.

The gaffe had angered some senators who warned him to be careful next time.

The former governor of Akwa Ibom state who rode on the wings of President Bola Tinubu to his current position, some senators now say has been making decisions unilaterally without consulting them.

According to the aggrieved Senators, bills sent to the Senate by the Executive arm of the government no longer get the input of senators before they are hurriedly passed.

Akpabio who faced stiff opposition from some of his colleagues during the contest for the Senate Presidency in June this year, however, denied the allegation, saying he’s running the senate with public interest in mind.

On Wednesday, Senator Ali Ndume, the Senate Chief Whip from Borno State, warned Akpabio to stop passing certain bills without formal reading and members’ contributions.

Also, Senator Ogoshi Onawo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, criticized the Senate President for running the Senate without consulting his colleagues on critical issues, the senator warned him that power is transient.

Onawo said, “Very sensitive bills are brought and are expected to be passed with the speed of light, which is not good for the country.

“Every senator here is supposed to be adequately informed; he does his research and makes a positive contribution, but in a situation where even money bills are brought and expected to be passed within two hours, it wouldn’t be better for the country.

“Sir, you are on the seat today; history will judge you that things like this are not good for this country.”

Responding Akpabio stated, “If the bills we pass are good for the country, history will judge me right. I don’t think we would come here to pass a bill that’s not good for the interest of Nigerians. So, your point of order is noted.”

The Senate under Akpabio recently passed a rule that barred fresh senators from vying for leadership positions in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, the action, his critics said was taken to counter those plotting to remove him from the top job.