Uncommon leadership acumen, dexterity, capacity, sagacity and lucidity has been decisive hallmarks of Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio’s personality traits for ages, right from his storied days as a young, versatile legal luminary who LED the drive for pro-bono cases to assist the indigent and vulnerable segments of the society, who could not afford the costly legal fees being charged by legal practitioners in the Lagos/ Ibadan axis during the late 80s and early 90s.
Having made his mark as an irrepressible defender of the rights and privileges of the distressed and downtrodden denizens of society, the youngish Barr. Godswill Akpabio, equally excelled as the innovative Honourable Commissioner of Finance, Akwa Ibom State during the Obong Victor Attah administration when he LED the path of uncommon fiscal probity and financial prudence which skyrocketed the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to record highs.
As the uncommon Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, the resolute Senator Akpabio LED
led the sustained push for a forensic audit of the embattled Niger Delta Development Commission in order to unravel the dubious and trenchantly fraudulent contracts, procurement and payment processes that was bleeding the NDDC and the nation dry up till this day.
As the uncommon presidential aspirant of the All Progressive Congress in 2022, an altruistic Senator Godswill Akpabio LED other presidential aspirants to step down for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu paving the way for his eventual victory as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in February 2023.
From the foregoing, it can be safely deduced that the uncommon leadership vigour, focus and fortitude come naturally to the incumbent Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and he has demonstrated this agility of purpose and courage of conviction all through the ongoing 10th Assembly legislative session bringing all and sundry together under his ennobling one Nigeria, one Destiny political philosophy.
Despite his amiable and conciliatory posture, Senator Godwill Akpabio is ready to go to the trenches to defend what is auspicious and beneficial for the nation, not caring whose ox is gored in the process.
This distinct character trait came into sharp focus during the tenuous debate on the passage of the five Tax Reform Bills which some reactionary circles both within and outside the National Assembly perceived as a litmus test of sectional opposition to the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu administration; truncating the Tax Bills would be the shadowy cabal’s way of crystallizing sectional disenchantment with the policies and programs of PBAT not minding that the provisions of the Bills were meant to make life more bearable and affordable for the average Nigerian as well as moving the nation’s economy to the next level in the crucial scheme of things.
Without catching a breath, the indefatigable Senate President mobilised progressive forces both within and outside the Red Chamber to checkmate the Tax Bills ‘traducers and duly convinced the vast majority of Distinguished Senators to support the forward-looking legislation, adopting tactical flourishes that led the Bills’ variegated opponents scampering for cover.
With the due passage of the five Tax Reform Bills ushering a new vista of probity, transparency and accountability in the fiscal regime of the nation while empowering the common man in the financial and micro-economic realms, a durable Senator Godswill Akpabio has demonstrated once again his uncommon penchant for leadership vigour, rigour, foresight and fortitude where it really matters as the crucial 2027 political horizon looms large.
Undoubtedly, more political and legislative hurdles will likely come his way as the perpetual malcontents and persistent naysayers regroup for fresh battles. In order to truncate the Renewed Hope Reform Agenda of the PBAT administration, but the sure bet is that Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio’s uncommon leadership acumen will have the last laugh, come rain, come shine. To God, be the Glory.
CHIDIEBERE EDOZIE, A LEGISLATIVE POLICY ANALYST WROTE IN FROM AWKA, ANAMBRA
