The Senate President, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, is indeed, one Nigerian, whose rise in politics since the advent of this political dispensation in 1999 can be truly said to be phenomenal by all standards. There may be other Nigerians in this enviable eminent club of great achievers, but they are not plenty. You can easily count them with your fingers.
Although trained as a lawyer, Akpabio has made giant strides in the field of politics, as a commissioner in three key ministries; Petroleum and Natural Resources, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as Lands and Housing, under the then Governor Obong Victor Attah between 2002 and 2006. He later became state governor in his native Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015, a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a federal minister and now the President of the 10th Senat.
Apart from working in the private sector before joining politics, his achievements in the political circle have overshadowed those he made in the private sector, especially in the telecoms sector. He worked briefly as a teacher before his law practice with Paul Usoro and Co as an associate partner. He also worked with EMIS Telecoms Limited and later rose to become its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.
Akpabio’s rise to political reckoning did not come easy. It was not by mere wishful thinking or circumstantial as many would think. It was also not by mother luck. Nigerians believe so much in good luck as if hard work does not pay any longer. However, it has a tinge of divine intervention, which cannot be ruled out in the affairs of men. His rise to political power in his Akwa Ibom State came by dint of hard work and perseverance.
As a political player, Akpabio can be said to have magical strategies that work for him and even make his political foes to work to his advantage. As a commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, he wormed himself to the people, the real owners of political power before declaring his ambition to via for the gubernatorial election in his state, even without strong backing from his predecessor and the powers that be.
How Akpabio fought the political battle of his life to even get his party’s nod, the good old People Democratic Party (PDP), a platform through which Akpabio became a two-time governor of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State will be a story for another day. That story of epic proportion will be a book in itself. That book, whenever it is written, will regale readers about how Akpabio fought the political demons and wizards to become what he is today.
As a commissioner, Akpabio endeared himself to the masses, the down trodden, the underdogs, the marginalized and the neglected of the society. And it paid off handsomely when he needed their votes and support to become the governor of the state despite stiff opposition by the powers that be. In all his engagements with the people and his political interface with other Nigerians, Akpabio is a great leader of men and shrewd manager of resources. He is an orator. He can also regale you with magical and mythical stories, stories of existence, suffering and survival. He can also crack jokes. He is philanthropic and always willing to help the needy and the less-privileged.
His uncommon achievements in Akwa Ibom has given him the deserving sobriquet of uncommon governor, uncommon senator and other things like that. During his time as the governor of Akwa Ibom, he made the state the number one tourist destination in the country and prominent men and people in the professions were trooping to Uyo to inspect numerous projects executed by the Akpabio administration and they are legion. His state-of-the-art stadium in Uyo has hosted so many matches by the Super Eagles and others. He built good roads, hospitals and schools.
No doubt, Akpabio redefined the politics of Akwa Ibom State and left indelible marks that any objective chronicler of political events in the state will never miss. His political ascendancy since leaving office as the governor of Akwa Ibom State can be traced to his uncommon strides while in Akwa Ibom. Akpabio is a fighter. He knows how to fight his political wars. When some political elements including those he mentored and bankrolled into office wanted to rubbish and retire him politically, he changed to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and became a senator, minister and now the Senate President within a short space of time. These achievements didn’t come easy. They are phenomenal. He shares the philosophy of politics without bitterness and the politics of consensus. He also believes in the philosophy of live and let live. They have all worked in his favour.
He knows when to step down others and when to say no. Akpabio is an adept in political game and knows that negotiation is central to Nigerian political game. He is also a team player. His legal training and expertise come handy when negotiating for power. And it has paid off handsomely. Senator Godswill Akpabio is among rising prominent Nigerian politicians to watch in the next decade. It appears that Akpabio is gradually being prepared for bigger political roles in future. Only time will tell.
How did Akpabio worm himself to national consciousness and reckoning in a very short time? His royal background and education have seemingly prepared him for great things. The signs that Akpabio will be a great leader started manifesting very early in his life. Look at these worthy examples. Akpabio was appointed the Senior Prefect while at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt. He was elected the Speaker of the parliamentary year at the University of Calabar, where he obtained a degree in Law. He worked in a telecoms company and rose to become its MD/CEO. He became commissioner of three key ministries, a feat rarely achieved in this part of the world.
In William Shakespeare’s typology of human achievers as dramatized in one of his plays, Twelfth Night, or What You Will “some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” However, I can say without equivocation that Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio belongs to the category of men who achieved greatness by dint of hard work and divine touch. Upon all his achievements, Akpabio is modest and unassuming. So far, his leadership style of the 10th Senate is equally inspiring. Apart from being firm, he also welcomes constructive criticisms.
Akpabio, the President of the Nigerian Senate since 2023 was born on December 9, 1962 in Ukana, Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. As Godswill Akpabio celebrates his 61st birthday tomorrow, I join millions of his admirers, friends, family members and political associates to wish him a happy birthday.