A sea of dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu’s wife, Oluremi, Governors Umo Eno, Bassey Otu and the Deputy Senate President, converged on the Uyo International Stadium to celebrate Senator Godswill Akpabio’s 61st birthday anniversary and formal state reception.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, Oluremi underscored the significance of the occasion, urging all politicians to prioritise nation building above partisan interests.
She commended Senator Akpabio’s exemplary leadership and dedication to promoting democracy and accountability. Charging other politicians to emulate Senator Akpabio, the President said it was time for all hands across party lines to be on the deck for nation building as the period of politics was over, paving the way for governance that prioritizes national interest rather than personal or party interest.
He noted that the Senate President had not only shown exemplary leadership which has gone a long way towards strengthening the principle of democracy and accountability, but also promoted the interest of many Nigerians, especially the vulnerable in the society.
He said: “At this auspicious occasion of Senator Godswill Akpabio’s 61st birthday, I send warm greetings and heartfelt wishes.This occasion is not only for celebration, but to reflect on the immense contribution he has made to Akwa Ibom and Nigeria as a whole. Under his leadership, Akwa Ibom witnessed remarkable infrastructural development, improved healthcare services and educational growth, poverty alleviation and human capital development as well as transformed the lives of many vulnerable persons.
“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. He is committed to principle of democracy, accountability and good governance.”
In his remarks, the Senate President appreciated the people who turned up to celebrate with him and said their presence would encourage him to do more and speak more, not just for Akwa Ibom People, but Nigerians as a whole.
Akpabio therefore used the occasion to clear the misconception that he created an office of the Senate president’s wife, saying that such never existed.
“There is no office called the office of the wife of the senate president, all these things are lies, the office is in the other room. I have tried to be the voice to the voiceless, not just to my senatorial district, but to Akwa Ibom and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
Governor Eno congratulated Senator Akpabio on his birthday and pledged his support for his leadership, irrespective of party lines or ethnicity, and enjoined all Akwa Ibom people and other stakeholders to learn how to support one another for the growth and development of the state and the country.
Chairman of the occasion and Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, described Senator Akpabio as an enigmatic leader whose era as governor had witnessed uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom and expressed optimism that he would replicate same leadership acumen to foster peace, unity development, irrespective of politics party affiliations.

The entire 109 Senators of the 10th Senate have donated their one-month salaries, amounting to N109m to the victims of drone mishap in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of the Kaduna State.
This was announced on yesterday by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin at the Kaduna State Government House when he led a high-powered delegation of the Senate to the state.
The Senators were received by the state governor, Senator Uba Sani.
In a statement by his  Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir,  Senator Barau said that the money would be sent to the state governor for onward delivery to the victims.
The governor thanked the senators for the donation of their December Salaries.
The Senate delegation comprising the  Senate leader, Senator Micheal Opayemi Bamidele; the Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume; Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro; Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Kamorudeen Olarere; Senator Abdulhamid Malam-Madori; Senator Aliyu Ikra Bilbis; Senator Ibrahim Bomoi; Senator Ibrahim Lamido; Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua; Senator Victor Umeh;  Senator Muntari Dandutse; Senator Lawal Usman; and Senator Emmanuel Udende, was also at the Barau Dikko Hospital to visit the victims.
Meanwhile, Governor Sani while recieivng the senators alleged that the security agencies in Nigeria were not working on the same page.
He called on the Senate to help ensure that the survivors of Tudun-Biri community who lost their relatives during the error attack get justice.
The Governor was responding to remarks by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on a condolence visit to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House Kaduna.
Governor Uba Sani who assured that the Kaduna State Government would continue to support the security agencies in the discharge of their constitutional duties, sought for a speedy investigation into the error attack by the Army, with a view to bringing culprits to book and putting an end to future error attacks in any part of the country.
He also revisited his earlier calls for state police, which he believed would complement the existing security arrangement.

Peace and co-operation among people and well defined channel of interaction with government have been identified as key features which accelerate the development process of the society.
Hon. Rowland Opusunju, former councilor who represented Opobo/Nkoro Ward 2 under the chairmanship of Dr. Dabiekpo Opusunju, made the call recently in Port Harcourt while speaking with The Tide on the recent political developments in Rivers State.
Hon. Opusunju said that with peace and co-operation, the executive, legislature and Rivers people could become development oriented partners towards the improvement of the peoples’ welfare.
He appealed to Rivers people to co-operate with the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the state, adding that democracy involves the participation of all the policy making and implementation components.
The ex- lawmaker therefore urged all the contending forces in the political impasse to re-think and sheathe their swords of displeasure by supporting the current administration without interference in order to achieve development goals.
Hon. Opusunju, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, regretted the level of development in the state since 1967 while emphasizing the need to extend development to the people, especially those in the rural communities.
He also expressed confidence in Governor Fubara’s commitment to liaise with all segments in the state to bridge the development gaps in the state through quality service delivery and the execution of needed infrastructural projects.
Hon. Opusunju, a political strategist and grassroots mobilizer, therefore, enjoined the political class to pay attention to the development needs of Rivers communities in order to give the people a sense of belonging.
He called for a quick resolution of the political crisis that hit the state two months ago in the interest of suffering masses.
Meanwhile, Hon. Rowland Opusunju has commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara on the appointment of Warisenibo Joseph Johnson as Commissioner for Information and Communications, describing the appointment as well deserved.
While praying for God’s benevolence on the Commissioner, he urged him to put in his best in the assignment to move the state forward under the Fubara- led administration for the good of all and sundry.

By: Bethel Toby