Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, has called on stakeholders in the South-South geopolitical zone to unite behind Godswill Akpabio, president of the senate.
In a statement on Wednesday, Omokri said Akpabio’s leadership of the national assembly is not only a stabilising force for the region but also vital for President Bola Tinubu’s legislative success.
He said the South-South must demonstrate political maturity by ensuring Akpabio serves uninterrupted for eight years, just as David Mark did as senate president from 2007 to 2015.
His words: “As a region, we in the South-South cannot afford to demonstrate political instability in that position, which is a key post in the hierarchy of power in Nigeria.
“It is a strategic office that is more vital than any other in maintaining the balance of power in our region.”
Omokri said the South-South must rise above party and religious differences to support Akpabio’s continued leadership.
“We must all temporarily forget about party, religion and other differences, and unite as one South-South behind the leader God has given us for this period in time,” he said.
He noted that Akpabio’s leadership has enabled a stable executive-legislative relationship, allowing President Tinubu to make legislative gains.
“Because of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Bola Tinubu has enjoyed peaceful executive-legislative coexistence. He is a sure and steady hand that is a partner in progress to the South-West, particularly President Bola Tinubu specifically, and Nigeria generally,” he said.
Omokri warned that any attack on Akpabio, whether political or personal, is an attack on the legislative agenda of the Tinubu administration.
“Any weapon fashioned against Senator Godswill Akpabio, whether by professional ‘sexpionage’ blackmailers or what have you, is not just a threat to the South-South but a direct missile aimed at President Bola Tinubu’s legislative agenda and, therefore, his Renewed Hope vision for Nigeria,” he said.
He urged the region not to allow what happened to former President Goodluck Jonathan to repeat itself with Akpabio.
He said: “That is why I call on the South-South to jealously and zealously guard what we have in Chief Godswill Akpabio.
“We must not allow what was done to President Goodluck Jonathan to be repeated with Senator Godswill Akpabio, the political leader of the South-South.”
Omokri also alleged that certain individuals were colluding to undermine Akpabio through orchestrated blackmail.
“As Kaduna mass murderers and potbellied Quislings from Rivers are meeting to coalesce with other Southern puppets, who are using ‘runs girls’ that, sadly, blackmailed their way up to target Akpabio, we in the South-South must unite behind him to preserve what God has given us in the present power dynamics of Nigeria,” he said.
