Godswill Akpabio, President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a destiny man. But he doesn’t seem to know that. His upbringing wasn’t inspiring at all. A combination of God’s will and love have lavished on him accomplishments beyond his imaginations. Few young lads who lost their fathers at very early age, and raised by their mothers, were able to make it big in life as Akpabio has done. Politics brought him unexpected, unmatched success.
Consider this: In four years , Akpabio was the only commissioner in Obong Victor Attah’s Cabinet in Akwa Ibom who had the rare opportunity to serve in three different portfolios, first as commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources, thereafter, as commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and subsequently, commissioner for Lands and Housing. Not long after, he was elected for two terms as Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator, and now, President of the Nigerian Senate. Who says Nigerian politics is not the most rewarding business in the world? But, not everyone is as ‘lucky’ as Godswill Akpabio. Perhaps it’s in his name. As the Bible says there could be much in a name. But the downside of the man is his proclivity for gaffes. He is often careless with words. He delights in mocking the poor, forgetting his own below-average upbringing. Last year, Akpabio’s unedifying comment to protesters over hardship in the country was such that eroded public trust. It was a symbol of his insensitivity, a detachment from the realities in the country.
Beyond that, incongruous logic has become a common trait of the Senate President in recent weeks. Following the six-month suspension of Sen Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, rather than receive any reproof from the Senate, Akpabio received a badge of honour, a confidence vote from his colleagues last week. That may have emboldened the more. Recall that Sen Natasha had last week took her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU), a global organisation of national parliaments, based in New York, USA.
What troubles the mind is Akpabio’s illogic response that the actions of Sen Natasha would have negative impact on the progress of female politicians in the country, and that female politicians stand the risk of not being considered to a second in command leadership position. He also claimed that her decision to go to the IPU and other multiple platforms has “embarrassed Nigeria”. Akpabio’s words, “you can imagine if somebody like Kamala Harris, the immediate past vice president of USA went on CNN to say that Joe Biden sexually assaulted her by mere shaking her hand or holding her hand to show her the office of the President. That automatically means nobody will pick another woman as VP”.
The premise of Akpabio analogy is faulty, and his conclusion, therefore, wrong. Both Kamala Harris and Joe Biden are disciplined politicians. They know what reputation means. First, it’s doubtful if Biden would have taken advantage of someone under him. If he did, that would have amounted to undermining the highest office in that land. It’s not unfair to say that Akpabio has not been an exemplar of good conduct in public office. In four years, he has been accused by two women of making inappropriate sexual advances towards them.
Every country is its own laboratory of democracy. What Akpabio allegedly did, according to his accuser, couldn’t have happened in America without the man at the centre of the scandal stepping down immediately from the office he occupies to allow full investigation to take place. Passing a vote of confidence in Akpabio is a mockery of Nigeria’s democracy and the virtues expected of public office holders. That’s why Sen. Natasha should not appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
It will achieve nothing but legitimise what Akpabio allegedly did. It will rubbish Natasha and portray Akpabio as a “victim”, rather than the aggressor. Last week, the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi told Channels TV that other lawmakers would be “invited to narrate to the Committee what know about the matter”. What indeed, do the “other lawmakers know about the sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio by Natasha? The Ethics Committee is working from the answer. It’s a ruse and a trap for Natasha. She should shun the committee for her own good. Inspiring leaders are exemplars of desired behaviour. They offer a big picture, value -based, optimistic view of the future that can propel people towards collective goals.The Nigerian Senate under Akpabio has not shown that nuance and leadership ability to rally people’s support behind its actions. Akpabio himself hasn’t fully grasped the essence of power, which is power for greater purposes. Except for just a few senators, and Rep members, the present lawmaking organ in Nigeria is populated by small-minded, self-aggrandizing, valueless pessimists. No country makes sustainable progress with such parliamentarians whose preoccupation is mainly for themselves, and not for those who elected them.
It’s unfortunate that what we have in the 10th National Assembly is a bunch of infuriating leaders, not inspiring leaders. Inspiring leaders empower, elevate, and empathize with the people. Infuriating leaders, on the other hand, ignore the pains of the citizens, diminish and corner their resources for themselves, and prioritize power over development and well-being of the people. That’s where we are today. It cut across every segment of governance. It’s sad that good leadership lessons that have moved other democracies forward and helped the people realise their dreams, have not been learned by our political leaders. And you ask, is it in our stars, or is Nigeria jinxed in the leadership scale? Think about that.