Tag: Akpabio

Senate President  Godswil Akpabio has urged the Police Service Commission (PSC)  to adopt a means of repositioning the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Akpabio said Nigeria stands at the threshold where ‘’our police force must not be seen merely as an arm of coercion, but as an engine of trust, justice and public service.’’

He gave the advice during the induction programme for Board members of the Police Service Commission.

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Akpabio charged the board members not to see their new position as a call to purpose and a sacred trust to serve.

The Senate President, who   was represented by his  deputy   Barau Jibrin, said that without a Police Force rooted in Justice and trusted by the people, “ the foundations  of our democracy will   tremble, the peace we cherish will  grow  fragile and the very fabric of our national life will  begin  to fret.”

He said Nigeria stands at a threshold where “our Police Force must no longer be seen merely as an arm of coercion, but as an engine of trust, justice and public service. “

Secretary to the Government of the Federation  George Akume  told the board that the Federal Government  envisions and supports  a governance structure “where  no individual  acts in isolation.”

President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a high-level Nigerian delegation to Vatican City to attend the funeral of His Holiness, Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88.

The funeral is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 26, with dignitaries and faithful from around the world expected to pay their final respects to the late Pontiff.

Leading the Nigerian delegation is the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. 

Other members of the five-man delegation include Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of the Abuja Archdiocese.

The delegation will also deliver a formal letter of condolence from President Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican, conveying Nigeria’s deep sympathy and solidarity with the Catholic Church and the global Christian community.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu mourned the passing of Pope Francis, hailing him as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.

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“The death of Pope Francis, coming just a day after Easter celebrations, marks a sacred return to his Maker during a time of renewed hope for Christians,” the President said, describing the Pontiff’s passing as a profound loss not just to the Catholic Church but to humanity.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, served as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and was the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. 

His papacy was marked by social advocacy, interfaith dialogue, and a commitment to the plight of the underprivileged.

President Tinubu’s gesture of sending a delegation underscores Nigeria’s respect for the global significance of Pope Francis’s ministry and the country’s strong historical ties with the Catholic Church.

The late Pope’s leadership and messages of compassion, peace, and justice deeply resonated with millions of Nigerians, especially among the Catholic faithful. 

His death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from leaders, religious communities, and citizens around the world.

President Tinubu also expressed hope that the Church would continue to draw strength from the Pope’s legacy of inclusion, humility, and moral leadership in a world beset by conflict and inequality.

The Nigerian delegation is expected to participate in the funeral rites alongside global dignitaries and religious leaders and to convey the nation’s prayers for the repose of Pope Francis’s soul.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has enjoined Christians and indeed all Nigerians to use the celebration of Easter to eschew political, religious, and ethnic biases and unite for the progress and general well-being of the nation.

He also appealed to those perpetrating mass killings across the country to respect the sacredness of human life by showing love instead of hatred and abandoning their evil ways for peace to reign in Nigeria.

Akpabio gave the admonition in a Easter message through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, in Abuja.

He said: “While I congratulate the Christian faithful for successfully completing the 40-day Lenten fast and now celebrating another Easter, I wish to appeal that we all show love to one another irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

“I also urge our Christian brothers and sisters to emulate Jesus Christ’s spirit of humility, love, and sacrifice.

“We are all created in the image of God Almighty and nothing should make us discriminate against another human being.

“For those who have taken to killing fellow human beings, maiming others and destroying property, I appeal that they respect the sacredness of human life.

“Easter is a period of love and I hope the atmosphere that permeates this season would cause them to jettison their evil ways, turn a new leaf and embrace peace.

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“I encourage all Nigerians to use the occasion of this celebration of Easter to reach out to those who are in need, especially victims of the senseless Killings across the nation. May we never be tired of sharing and making sacrifices for one another.”

The Senate President also urged Christians not to relent in their prayers after Easter but to continue seeking God’s intervention in the affairs of the nation.

“Continue to offer prayers for leaders at every level in the country and God helping us, our nation will be better off”.

“On behalf of my family, constituents, the Senate and entire National Assembly, I wish you all a peaceful, loving and blissful Easter celebration,” he said.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, (PDP- Kogi Central) has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to dismiss the petition by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, accusing her of criminal defamation and incitement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who was recently suspended by the Senate for alleged misconduct, however, urged the IGP to investigate Akpabio over allegations of threats to her life.

Akpabio had written to Egbetokun, alleging that the senator falsely accused him of plotting her assassination.

He accused the Kogi Central Senator of “heinous lies” aimed at damaging his reputation and inciting unrest.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan in a statement by her counsel, Victor Giwa yesterday, accused the Senate President of attempting to preempt investigations into his alleged role in a plot to harm her by raising counter-allegations of public incitement.

She said that Akpabio’s petition was a deliberate attempt to distract the police from more pressing allegations against him.

“We remain counsel for Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, hereafter known as our client. Our attention has been drawn to the news-making round that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a petition against our client, Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleging incitement of the public against his person.

“It is our client’s position that the Senate President should submit himself for a full investigation to security agents before any allegation of incitement against him.

“The Senate President is a ‘principal suspect’ in the case of a threat to the life of the distinguished Senator Natasha, whose securities have been withdrawn illegally at the instruction of the Senate president.”

She said that not until the investigation into the allegations against the Senate President had been completed and proven to be false could the Akpabio’s petition be entertained.

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“We, therefore, call on the Senate President to submit himself to full investigation rather than divert the attention of the security agents through a bubble petition.

“It is only when the investigation has been concluded, and the allegation has been shown to be false, that the issue of incitement and false allegation against Senator Natasha can be entertained.

“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to discontinue the Senate president’s Petition as being diversionary and prejudicing of investigation,” the lawyer said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio yesterday pledged the National Assembly’s support for ongoing push by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to transform the Nigerian military into a world-class force.

Akpabio gave the assurance as the Special Guest of Honour at the inaugural high-level roundtable of the National Defence College (NDC) Irregular Warfare Centre, in Abuja.

He spoke on a day the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)  Gen. Christopher Musa said that more than 2,000 Nigerian military officers have received training from military institutions in Pakistan.

The roundtable focused on presenting research findings from ongoing Joint Task Force operations in the country, and demonstrates the ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s defence systems and promote regional security through collaborative research and strategic planning initiatives.

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Akpabio, who was represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua said: “Let me affirm here now that the National Assembly stands as a steadfast ally to our Armed Forces.

“We remain fully committed to supporting you, not only in defending our sovereignty, but in evolving into an elite, world-class force.

“We will ensure you are equipped not only with weapons, but with training, intelligence, innovation, and the moral mandate of the people.”

The Senate President described the initiative by the NDC as not only timely, but a proactive strategy that would shape the future of the country.

Hailing members of the Armed Forces for their sacrifices in defending the country against adversaries, Akpabio  urged the military to continue to uphold professionalism, discipline, and respect for human dignity.

He said: “We understand that the battles we fight are not only on the frontline of war, but also on the frontier of perception. It’s through these virtues that you ensure trust between the community and the citizens. Let the people not see our soldiers as mere children-poets, but as patrolling warriors standing between orders and chaos.

“Let them in their uniform be seen not as a symbol of fear, but as a banner of protection, honor, and peace.”

Akpabio called for the implementation of the research findings to create a stronger defense policy, foster deeper cooperation, and inspire bolder thinking.

Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, who was represented by his Special Assistant (Technical), Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Jibril, said the Federal Government is combating insecurity a “whole-of-nation-approach.”

Badaru said that the approach was designed due to the realisation that kinetic approach alone cannot solve insecurity problem.

He explained that the approach, which is a comprehensive strategy, involves government agencies, civil society organisations, individual citizens, and the private sector, efforts in solving insecurity problem.

Badaru said: “The idea of dealing with insecurity through kinetic approach alone we knew that it’s not going to work. I recall during the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Conference, he told us that this thing that everybody is thinking it is a military thing, or a police thing, or security agency thing, is not going to work. If we continue like that, this problem will remain with us for life.”

The minister said that government was attacking the root causes of insecurity by addressing the problems of poverty, inequality and unemployment in the country.

Gen. Musa, who was represented by the Director of Special Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Alexander Bingel, said the concept of joint task force was responsible for the restoration of peace to the Northeast.

“However, of recent, we have noticed that those successes have been on the decline,” he lamented.

“And this research is so timely that it will give us an insight to what we need to do, what we need to improve on, so that we will, at the end of the day, achieve the common goal of securing a country where lives and properties of our citizenry are protected.”

NDC Commandant Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu said the Irregular War Centre was established in January to close the gap in research effort, especially in the areas of irregular and hybrid threats to meet the evolving security dynamics in contemporary times, where nations are confronted by various forms of threats other than conventional war.