Politics
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu, as he labours to fix the economy.
Akpabio, who described the economy as “foamy”, said it was left wobbling by the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, whom he alleged created a very big hole in the national treasury.
He said Tinubu inherited a battered economy which he is currently trying to salvage and navigate away from the stranglehold of sleaze and corruption.
The Senate president made the plea at Ikot Ekpene Stadium over the weekend, when his kinsmen from Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District hosted him and his National Assembly colleagues in an elaborate welcome reception since taking the Senate Presidential mantle last year.
He recalled that his earlier remarks on Emefiele being the major culprit responsible for failure of the economy, had drawn the ire of the former CBN boss, who took him (Akpabio) to court, but maintained that; “I still stand by my position,” despite the court case.
Expressing optimism and confidence in the economy bouncing back stronger, Akpabio assured that President Tinubu, has the magic wand to retool the economy and put it back on the trajectory of growth as he did as governor of Lagos State which became one of the most bouyant economies in Africa.
He said the knowledge and political ingenuity of three former governors, namely Tinubu as President; Kashim Shettima, former Borno State Governor (Vice President) and himself, as former Akwa Ibom State governor, will help the country return to the right economic path.
He assured the people of the state, the South-South region and the country, of all – round federal presence, assuring that the coastal road coming all the way from Lagos to Calabar, would cut across various states in the South West, South East and the South South political zones, with attendant socio -economic developments.
The Senate President also assured the host governor, Pastor Umo Eno, of the Deep Seaport, and other federal government projects and urged him to liaise with the managing director (MD) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, to extend the ongoing road project from the neighbouring Abia State to Ini, Ikono, Ikot Ekpene to connect Uyo, the State tate capital.
“You have asked for Seaport, you will not only get Seaport, you will get roads, flyovers, and other federal projects, and we are going to do this because of you,” he stressed.
He however urged the governor to live above board as a Pastor, to which the governor agreed.
However, governor Eno, who joined others to welcome Akpabio, thanked President Tinubu, for finding an Akwa Ibom son fitting for the exalted position of number three citizen, and pledged to work with the centre, in spite of political party differences to bring development to the state.
He, therefore, appealed to the Senate President, not to truncate the governorship succession plan laid down in the State by successive approximations since the return of democracy in 1999, by allowing him to see through his eight years as was the case of Obong Victor Attah (1999-2007); Chief Godswill Akpabio (2007 -2015) and Mr. Udom Emmanuel (2015-2023).
Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, extolled the leadership virtues of Senator Akpabio.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that he’s still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike’s comment followed his expulsion from the party by the faction led by National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki.
Turaki had formally dispatched expulsion certificates to 11 prominent party chieftains, including Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Kamarudeen Ajibade, SAN, Abdurahman Muhammad Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
He said their expulsion was aimed at sanitising the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Wike dismissed the claim while assuring that he would continue to work with other party members in making PDP a relevant opposition party.
The minister spoke while addressing journalists after inspecting the Interchange bridge and road linking Gwarinpa with Jahi and direct to Katampe, Gishiri and Maitama.
He said, “Those that are factionalized are bound to leave the party, I’m still in PDP and you can see that not everybody has left.
“We still have good numbers and we will continue to work together and that’s what I have said to the party. Put your house in order because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that is losing.
“So those who are worried, we can work together to see how the party can remain a relevant opposition.”
The governments of Abia and Imo States have announced the launching of a joint security taskforce and surveillance along the Aba-Owerri expressway, starting from Owerrinta in Abia State all the way to Owerri, Imo State.
The launch followed recent attacks by criminals on the expressway, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The formation of the joint security taskforce and surveillance was announced by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity.
His statement read in part: “Arising from a strategic emergency security meeting held today, 4th December, 2025, by the Governors of Abia and Imo Sates at the Imo State Government Owerri House, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti and His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma resolved to set up a joint security Taskforce that shall consist of Soldiers, Naval Personnel, Police Officers , DSS Personnel, and other Government Security Agencies.
“The joint security Taskforce shall, starting from tomorrow 5th December 2025, patrol the road 24 hours nonstop, while carrying out massive surveillance in the surrounding bushes using sophisticated drones and other modern security equipment.”
According to the statement, Governor Alex Otti commended the Governor of Imo State for arresting the criminals who carried out an attack on His advanced team and other passengers a few days ago.
“The two Governors, while assuring citizens plying the road on a daily basis and those returning home for Christmas of their safety and security, warn that there would be severe consequences for any criminal caught on the road going forward”, Ekeoma concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.
Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.
The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
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