The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio has affirmed that his mother, late Mrs. Lucy Akpabio was the one who groomed him and instilled strong moral values which has shaped his character and helped him navigate through life.
The Senate President, speaking on the occasion of his 61st birthday celebration yesterday, December 9, 2023 in Uyo, said that it was the strong moral values his late mother instilled in him that has kept up the drive in him to lead a exemplary life.
He recounted how he lost his father while he was just six months old, and how his mother took up the enormous task of catering for him and striving to provide all he needed to stand tall.
Senator Akpabio who is also the former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, expressed gratitude to his mother who doed in the year 2000, for not just taking the onerous task of raising him without a father, but ensuring that she taught him to understand the value of integrity, dedication, hardwork, and friendliness, stressing that those values have remained guiding stars to him.
He also thanked his wife, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio for her unwavering support, and his siblings for always keeping a close family tie that have paved ways for many good things to come his way.
Many dignitaries, including the wife of the President of Nigeria, Pastor Oluremi Tinubu, eulogized the starling leadership qualities of Senator Akpabio and wished him a glorious new year ahead.
Speaking shortly after the official cutting of the Senate President’s birthday cake, Oluremi Tinubu described Senator Akpabio as: “an extraordinary and uncommon man in our generation.”
According to her, Senator Akpabio’s commitment to serving Nigeria diligently has stood him out as a patriot who is committed to the principles of accountability, transparency and unity.
“It is my pleasure to be here today to celebrate the 61st Birthday anniversary of an extraordinary man, uncommon in our generation. This occasion is not only a celebration but also an opportunity to reflect on the immense contributions he has made to Akwa Ibom state in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
“Senator Akpabio’s journey in public service from his early days as a lawyer to his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom state and now as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is worth mentioning. It is noteworthy that under his leadership Akwa Ibom State witnessed remarkable infrastructural development, improved health care services and educational opportunities.
“His administration focused on human capital development and poverty alleviation programmes that transformed the lives of many particularly the most vulnerable in the society.
“Senator Akpabio has continued to serve our nation diligently in the Senate. As the Senate president he has displayed exemplary Leadership, fostered unity, and promoted the interest of many Nigerians. May this day be filled with joy and I pray that you celebrate many more birthdays in good health, peace and happiness.”
The president’s wife hailed members of the national assembly for cooperating with senate president to provide effective legislation and support to the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency.
She also thanked Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno and the political class in Akwa Ibom State for working in unison with the senate and the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration at the federal level.
“All the other states that they call opposition, if I come to your state to work, no one can stop me because I will do the work. Nigerians deserve that. We have a programme for the elderly coming up and all the Governors wives to know that they were supposed to be involved. “We want to give financial assistance to 250 elderly people per State. Politics is over they should allow us to govern the people.”

Former member and Spokesperson of the National Assembly, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, has expressed confidence in the fact that the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Tinubu would soon manifest.
Eseme Eyiboh, currently the Spokesperson of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, spoke at a meeting he had with Esit Eket party stakeholders, elders, and leaders from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Young Progressive Party (YPP) in The House of Eyiboh in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State during the week.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by the people, but that though it has become a lost to the people that he didn’t come out victorious in his election to the House of Representatives, he is determined to engage for the well-being of his people.
Eyiboh expressed confidence in the transformation mission of President Bola Tinubu, asserting, “We have a robust hope, and it is only Armageddon that will stop the holistic transformation and Renewed Hope that is coming up to Nigeria, even to us here in Esit Eket.”
He acknowledged that some individuals bridged political divides and worked together across party lines for the betterment of their community.
“I am playing politics of example,” Eyiboh declared. He stressed the importance of serving the people beyond personal ambitions and shared a vision to improve connectivity and inclusive development of the people.
“It is not only through Ibaka that you can go to Cameroon. You can get there through Ikom in Cross River State,” he explained, illustrating his dedication to accessibility, especially in developing human capital development.
Eyiboh expressed his commitment to making a difference in people’s lives, beyond his role as a Member in the House of Representatives.
Eyiboh also announced an upcoming event to honour his principal, Godswill Akpabio, whom he said will mark his 61st birth anniversary.
“On Saturday, December 9th, my principal and President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, is marking his 61st birth anniversary which shall hold at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. Also, there will be a Colloquium to celebrate and honour him in Abuja. So I invite you to join us at the event”, he said.
Also speaking, former Councillor Ward 5, Hon. Ime Robson, himself a strong advocate of President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio; Daniel Assan, APC Chapter Chairman; Chief Akamba Maxuel, chairmanships aspirant; Prince Godwin Asibe, APC Leader Zone A, among others, lauded the former lawmaker for coming to announce his visit to the state.
Describing Hon. Eyiboh as a pride of Esit Eket and Akwa Ibom State at large, the speakers congratulated him on his appointment as the Spokesman of the Senate President, commending him for his ingenuity in defending the 10th Senate.
The people expressed the hope that the former Member of the Green Chambers would hold fast his timeless reputation of human capital development and bring dividends of democracy to them when the time is ripe.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of an Osun State High Court Judge, Justice S. O. Falola.
The recommendation was made sequel to the findings of an Investigation Committee over a petition against him.
The petition was written against Justice Falola by Dapo Kolapo Olowo and Polaris Bank complaining that the judge granted a Garnishee Order which was Absolute against the Bank for N283,174,000.00 in a questionable and strange manner and endorsement of the Order, attaching the account of the Garnishee with another garnishee, and not the account of the Judgment Debtor, who had the legal obligation to pay the supposed judgement sum.
They found that the Judge misconducted himself by entertaining Suit No HIK/41/2018 when there was no evidence of a judgement of the Kwara State High Court before him, nor was there a Certificate of Registration of same in Osun State to confer jurisdiction on him.
It further found the conduct of the Judge travelling to Lagos to visit the Counsel of the Bank in his Chambers on the issue of Garnishee Proceedings unbecoming of the standard expected of a Judicial Officer.
Consequently, the Council resolved to recommend him to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for compulsory retirement with immediate effect.
In the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the NJC suspended Falola from office pending the approval of the recommendation of his compulsory retirement by the Osun State Governor.
The case of Justice Falola was one of the decisions taken by the NJC, with the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as Chairman at its 104th Meeting between yesterday, December 6 and today, December 7.

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammad Sanusi II, popularly known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has asked President Bola Tinubu to relinquish his position as minister of petroleum resources.
He also called for a proper auditing of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Sanusi, who spoke at The Bank Directors Summit holding at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, recalled that it was his call for the auditing of the NNPC account that cost him his job at the apex bank. He was CBN governor from June 2009 to February 2014.

Sanusi, who is also the former Emir of Kano, insisted that the President should not be the Minister of Petroleum resources.
In August, about three months after his inauguration, President Bola Tinubu split the Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the appointment of Ekperipe Ekpo as Minister of State, Gas Resources; and Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State, Petroleum Resources.
In keeping with the tradition of his immediate predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, President Tinubu retained the position of the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources.
The former apex bank boss described the arrangement whereby the President would head the petroleum resources ministry as misnomer.
This was even as he said that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) should be allowed to remain until banks get together and pay up what they owe the system.
He said that the banking sector must shore up its trust deficit in the eyes of the public and that there is no need to amend the CBN Act to keep the apex bank free of political influences.
Source: Channels TV.