Politics
WHY AKPABIO MUST CONDUCT HIS OFFICE AFFAIRS WITH DIGNITY
WHY AKPABIO MUST CONDUCT HIS OFFICE AFFAIRS WITH DIGNITY
Today, I write to address the too many delinquencies; that have almost become a trademark of Honourable Akpabio’s Senate presidency.
People of the Christians faith;and those inclined to history and learning, should be familiar with the biblical story, of how God blessed and promoted Haman, yet, a beneficiary of such ‘unmerited favour’ earnestly sought to deploy his office, to denigrate; attack and attempt to annihilate an innocent Jewish Mordecai.
How Haman ended, is better read from the Holy Book,but of course,it is one story to warn against abuse of office and amassing political and otherwise foes unnecessarily.
While one may situate this story in history, the ensuing disposition of Mr. Akpabio, Senate President of the 10th Assembly, reaffirms the fact that, ‘history repeats itself;
and those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat’
At such a time in the life of our Nation,Nigeria, we do not need a Senate President that is bereft of the needed temperament and ideas, to support the President in his determination towards economic recovery.
Mr. Akpabio does not seem to know that psychology and communication play significant roles in the economic acquiescence of individuals and households,he is unfortunately unaware that, most of his utterances are regarded, as being endorsed by either the government or the President.
As the president of the 10th Senate, Akpabio has nothing to show in crucial areas of national interests and concerns, especially nation building. Rather, he gallivants around in his usual unfounded statements; that could further fracture peace among brothers.
Clearly, where there are metrics for who gets what, senate president; Godswill Akpabio is the least Nigerian, to occupy such sensitive position, particularly for the series of his obnoxious statements going publicly unchecked.
Unfortunately, Akpabio’s misguided utterances, are telling negatively on the overall image of the President Tinubu administration, and may become a significant impediment to any potential goodwill the president may garner eventually.
It appears all Akpabio is concerned about, are mundane issues, some of which are brazen lies and sheer ineptitudes.
Recently, while responding to the genuine concern raised by a senator colleague,on the citing of Federal Medical Centres across the states of the Federation, he detoured to take a swipe; just as it has become characteristic of him. Verifiably, it is not for nothing that the bill for establishment of Federal Medical Centre FMC across states of the federation, which was brought to the red chamber from the House of Representative for concurrence,was easily suspended. Such disgruntled public outcry is a testament that, the National assembly under the leadership of Akpabio remains a hoax.
It is more unfortunate that, Senator Akpabio seems trapped in his days as Commissioner; under Governor Victor Attah, as virtually all his references are from his time as commissioner. This is such a pity, and the reflection is what we are seeing; based on his indiscretion, vituperation and lack of restraints;regardless that he occupies the third highest office in the country.
It is appalling how Akpabio’s insensitivity has gone viral. His unguarded utterances are unbecoming of a Senate President, and If not checked, he poses an unprecedented catastrophe to the Tinubu administration and even the nation at large.
Recall that, the Nigerian senate whip, senator Ali Ndume once declared that the house may take drastic actions against Akpabio, when he announced to his colleagues’ dismay that, a holiday allowance was sent to their various bank accounts, to enable them to enjoy their holidays after the screening of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees. Such indiscretion and loquaciousness!
For someone whose record of pilfering is legendary, one can only hope that his utterances may warrant the release of the documents of his service while he acted as ’emperor’ of Akwa Ibom state.
Added to all these,one needs no soothsayer, to see clearly that, he is determined to set off crises in the most peaceful state in Nigeria, so as to leverage on the outcome;as it is characteristic of him and his style.
Ordinarily, those whose antecedents are riddled with character flaws and amorality, should not enjoy any form of regard or relevance beyond recognition of their scabbard. Akpabio ought to have remained indoors, if possible, to regain sanity from intoxication of how he considers himself a god.
Sometime ago, someone within Akpabio’s close quarters quipped, “I do not understand Oga’s problem with Udom. He barely utters three words without mentioning Udom as many times as possible.” Who knows, the story of Akpabio demanding that Udom be initiated into his cult and the latter’s barefaced and frontal refusal may be true after all.
People like Udom aptly understand the God and god conundrum, and his (Udom) refusal to bow to a god that could qualify him to be at war with God, remains the basis for Akpabio’s endless contempt.
It is not too late for Senate Presidents before him, including Senator David Mark, Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Ahmad Lawan to conduct an orientation programme for Senator Akpabio, on how to occupy and comport himself in such an exalted office with dignity and integrity, and also to desist from the barrage of lies to cover mediocrity.
A leader who has ideas does not discuss people, rather,he co-opts people through intelligence, to discuss ideas.
It is high time, President Tinubu had called Akpabio to order from his drunken illusion.
I mean, isn’t it sad that a man whose failed footage has been served across the world;and known for dubious performance now parades himself as a demigod? Isn’t it laughable that,a man like Akpabio should still has the temerity to ‘preach against water while drinking wine?’
Finally a word of advice for Mr. Akpabio from the words of Sydney Harris would suffice: “history repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise, that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.” The earlier Mr. Senate President acquaints himself with this,the better.
It is therefore to his best interests, to explore potential consequences of such a dangerous possibility.
Politics
Why We Remain D-Colonised: The British Built Institutions, Nigerians Built Excuses & Blames
Why We Remain D-Colonised: The British Built Institutions, Nigerians Built Excuses & Blames
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
More than sixty years after taking independence from Britain, Nigeria remains a painful paradox, a nation rich in resources yet poor in discipline, rich in talent yet impoverished by corruption and rich in culture yet diminished by moral decay. The painful irony is that Nigerians were colonised by the British, a people whose commitment to order, public service, patriotism and institutional integrity stands in stark contrast to the prevailing chaos in Nigeria.
It is time we admitted a bitter but necessary truth: the British are very much unlike Nigerians, especially in the spheres that determine national greatness. In public service, in private enterprise, in respect for the rule of law, in the dignity of labour, in financial accountability and in civic responsibility, the British have long upheld values that are either absent or grossly undervalued in Nigerian society.
1. Public Service and Integrity: A Tale of Two Cultures
The British civil service is one of the oldest and most respected bureaucracies in the world. It is built on principles of neutrality, competence and loyalty to the state; not the ruling party. According to the UK Institute for Government (2023), over 98% of British civil servants are appointed through a competitive, merit-based system that upholds the values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. Compare this to Nigeria, where nepotism, bribery, tribalism and religious stands often determine appointments.
Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perception Index ranks the UK 20th out of 180 countries, while Nigeria languishes at 145th. In Nigeria, public service is viewed not as a means to serve, but as a platform to loot. The Nigerian politician is not a statesman; he is a state-chopper.
Chinua Achebe famously said, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.”
2. Discipline and Duty to the State
The British are raised with an internalised sense of duty to their country. The Union Jack is not just a flag; it is a sacred symbol of collective sacrifice and national pride. Every schoolchild is taught to honour it. In contrast, Nigerian students do not know their state flags, much less the meaning of their national symbols. Even our National Anthem is recited without heart, often forgotten by those in power.
The British queue with discipline. They drive with patience. They pay taxes with dignity. In Nigeria, the concept of queueing is alien. We jump lines, bribe our way through airports and evade taxes while crying for development. According to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), only 10 million Nigerians pay taxes out of over 70 million eligible adults. In the UK, over 95% of working adults pay taxes annually.
Patriotism is not singing national songs during football matches. It is protecting public property. It is demanding accountability. It is paying taxes. It is electing leaders not based on tribe, but merit.
3. Financial Accountability and the Public Treasury
The British Parliament has robust mechanisms for scrutinising public expenditure. The UK’s National Audit Office regularly audits ministries and public officers are held accountable. In 2009, British MPs were forced to resign and even prosecuted over minor abuses of parliamentary expenses, some as little as £100.
In Nigeria, we lose billions to untraceable budget padding, fake contracts and ghost workers. According to the Auditor-General of Nigeria’s 2022 report, over ₦105 billion in federal funds were misappropriated or unaccounted for in one year alone. Yet, there are no consequences.
John Locke, a philosopher whose ideas influenced British governance, once said, “Where law ends, tyranny begins.” In Nigeria, law has long ended.
4. Private and Public Morality
The British sense of morality, though not perfect, is guided by centuries of cultural evolution, religious moderation and civic education. There is respect for the law, a love for clean environments and a fierce dedication to honesty in both public and private dealings. In the UK, cheating in an exam can end your academic career; in Nigeria, lecturers collect bribes for grades and universities sell honorary degrees to fraudsters.
In the UK, traffic rules are obeyed even without police presence. In Nigeria, motorists drive on pedestrian sidewalks, while police officers extort citizens in broad daylight. British society frowns at dishonesty; in Nigeria, we baptise fraudsters with nicknames like “fast Guy” and or “yahoo Yahoo”
Professor Wole Soyinka once said, “You cannot build a nation with crooks and you cannot expect honour from those who were not taught honour.”
5. Leadership and Political Discipline
The British political system is one of the most stable democracies in the world. Prime Ministers have resigned over integrity issues that would be considered trivial in Nigeria. David Cameron resigned after losing a referendum. Boris Johnson stepped down amid an internal party revolt. That is what democracy looks like: accountability not impunity.
In Nigeria, a leader can be caught on camera stuffing dollars in his agbada and still become a senator. The political elite are shielded by ethnicity, immunity and a docile populace. Leadership is about sacrifice in the UK; in Nigeria, it’s about plunder.
6. Religious Management and Behaviour
The British people have evolved spiritually. Religion is personal, not political. Churches and mosques do not block roads. Clerics do not endorse politicians for money. Religious leaders do not preach hatred or tribalism. In contrast, Nigerian religious institutions have become extensions of political parties and money-laundering schemes.
We pray more than any other nation on earth, yet our roads are the worst, our hospitals dilapidated and our police the most feared institution after armed robbers. God is not our problem; CHARACTER is.
7. Human and Resource Management
The UK has one of the best systems for managing its citizens. Births are recorded, national identity is compulsory, pensions are paid and the National Health Service (NHS) offers universal healthcare. In Nigeria, millions have no ID. Ghost workers earn salaries. Pensioners die in queues. Doctors flee the country daily. According to the Nigerian Medical Association (2023), over 60% of Nigeria-trained doctors now work abroad, many in the UK and Canada.
A Call to National Rebirth Through Character Transformation
It is not geography or GDP that distinguishes nations, it is the character of the people. Britain colonised over a quarter of the world not just with ships and soldiers, but with an ideology of order, systems and responsibility. Today, Britain remains relevant not because of its natural resources, but because it has mastered human management, institutional governance, and social discipline.
Nigeria must stop blaming colonialism for her current state. The British have long left, but we continue to govern like a colony of impunity. We have replaced oppression with self-destruction and substituted colonial order with indigenous chaos. The tragedy is not that we were colonised; it is that we never outgrew it.
The time has come for Nigerians to look in the mirror and ask: “Are we building a country, or simply existing in one?”
If we must ever rise, then every citizen from the street HAWKER to the SENATOR must undergo a moral re-engineering. Our children must be taught ethics before English and our leaders must be held to the standards of public service, not personal gain.
Nations are not built by miracles, they are built by mindsets and until we begin to think like those who once ruled us not in dominance but in discipline, we will remain a footnote in the history of missed potential.
Let me end with the words of Mahatma Gandhi:
“A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”
And to paraphrase former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill:
“To each, there comes a moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and asked to do a great thing. Let Nigeria not sleep through that moment.”
Nigeria, arise; not in noise, but in discipline and let the transformation begin, not in Abuja, but in the Nigerian soul.
Politics
Lagos APC in Turmoil as Chairmanship Aspirants Reject ‘Imposition Plot’ Ahead of Council Polls
PDP in Crisis: The Political Exodus That May End Africa’s Largest Party
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Never did we imagine that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once hailed as Africa’s largest political coalition, would witness such dramatic erosion from within. But in today’s Nigeria, where political loyalty is as volatile as the economy, the PDP is now hanging by a thread. What was once a formidable machinery that ruled Nigeria for 16 unbroken years has become a political shadow, limping from one internal crisis to another, gasping under the weight of ambition, betrayal and irrelevance.
This is no longer mere speculation. This is a full-blown political exodus.
The warning signs have long been in the air, but the silence of the party’s leadership only emboldened the defections. More PDP governors, senators and influential political actors are preparing to “throw in the dirty towel” to use a common Nigerian parlance and “get a change of toiletries” from a more promising political vehicle. The All Progressives Congress (APC), despite its governance failures, has remained the dominant force. Meanwhile, Labour Party (LP) and its ideological frontmen have seized the imagination of Nigeria’s politically conscious youth. Where is the PDP in all this? Nowhere near the pulse of the nation.
The Collapse of a Giant
Once upon a time, PDP stood like a colossus, commanding national attention and holding sway across all six geopolitical zones. In 2007, it controlled 28 out of 36 state governorships. By 2015, that number had dropped to 21. Today in 2025, the PDP controls just 9 states, an embarrassing decline that reveals the party’s waning appeal and fractured internal unity. Analysts have blamed this on the party’s failure to manage its primaries democratically, an outdated power-sharing formula and the overbearing influence of godfathers.
“Power is not something you hold forever. You must constantly renew your legitimacy through the people,” said late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a former PDP leader known for his integrity. The party has clearly forgotten this principle.
The Atiku Albatross
The PDP’s 2023 presidential campaign was marred by one fatal error: the insistence of fielding Atiku Abubakar, a serial contestant whose political capital has been dwindling with each election cycle. The PDP’s inability to learn from its past mistakes and reinvent itself through younger, credible candidates shows how deeply the party has lost touch with contemporary realities.
Even within the party, Atiku is increasingly seen not as a unifier but a divider. His constant grip on the presidential ticket has frustrated younger aspirants and caused internal blockades that push members away.
“One man cannot hold a whole party to ransom,” said former Senate President Bukola Saraki in a private meeting leaked last year. That message reflects what many insiders are saying in hushed tones.
The Shockwaves of 2027
As the 2027 election cycle begins to take shape, permutations are in full gear. And while Atiku may be warming up for a record-breaking sixth attempt at the presidency, his influence is anything but stable. The PDP is already seeing rebellion from within, particularly from southern blocs who believe it is time the North stopped dominating the party’s presidential ambition.
Key political actors are already exploring alternative alliances. Rumours abound of secret talks between PDP governors and Tinubu’s men. Some are also aligning quietly with Peter Obi’s Labour Party, hoping to hedge their bets.
A recent poll by SBM Intelligence showed that 61% of PDP voters in the South-East and South-South are “open to switching allegiance” if the party fails to restructure before 2026. That’s a political red flag.
Why Governors Are Jumping Ship
What exactly is triggering this mass departure? The reasons are numerous, but four stand out:
Self-Preservation: Most Nigerian governors operate in a transactional political environment. Their loyalty lies not with ideology but with continuity of power. With the PDP unlikely to win the presidency in 2027, many are seeking new alliances to protect their political future.
Lack of Internal Democracy: The PDP has failed repeatedly to conduct transparent and fair primaries. Recent gubernatorial primaries in states like Delta, Rivers and Abia were marred by allegations of imposition and backdoor deals.
Atiku’s Grip: The feeling that Atiku is determined to contest in 2027, regardless of public sentiment, is unsettling. Many believe that as long as he remains a central force in the party, others have no space to thrive.
Tinubu’s Strategic Poaching: The current APC-led administration is systematically targeting opposition strongholds. Governors are being enticed with promises of federal appointments, project funding and legal shields from EFCC investigations.
Can the PDP Survive?
This is the pressing question. The answer lies in whether the party is willing to undergo painful introspection and renewal. It must adopt a bottom-up approach, re-engage with the grassroots, purge itself of godfatherism and allow credible young candidates to emerge.
It also needs to redefine its ideology. The APC may have failed economically, but it succeeded politically by branding itself as a party of change, regardless of how false that branding turned out to be. The PDP has no distinct narrative today.
What the Experts Say
Prof. Ayo Olukotun, a leading political scientist at Obafemi Awolowo University, recently argued: “The PDP is a classic case of political entropy. Without internal reform, it will disintegrate not by collapse, but by irrelevance.”
Similarly, Dr. Remi Adekoya, political analyst and author of “Politics of Identity in Nigeria”, notes: “The PDP has become a party for political pensioners. It is not inspiring to young voters nor innovative in its messaging.”
A Last Chance
If Atiku and the old guard truly care about the future of PDP, they must step back and allow a new leadership to emerge. Nigeria is moving on. The PDP must do the same. The 2027 ticket cannot be an inheritance. It must be earned. And it must reflect the shifting demographics of Nigerian voters, 65% of whom are under the age of 35.
This is not just about Atiku. It is about the soul of the PDP and whether it can reclaim its place in Nigerian political history or fade into obscurity like the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of the 1990s.
Furthermore
History is not kind to political parties that fail to evolve. The PDP has been served many warnings. The defections we see today are not just acts of betrayal; they are symptoms of decay. If the party does not reinvent itself quickly and decisively, it will not survive the coming storm.
The words of Chinua Achebe ring truer than ever: “A man who brings home ant-infested firewood should not be surprised when lizards come to feast.” The PDP brought this upon itself. The only question now is: will it learn, or will it perish?
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