Tag: Akpabio

• Senate President breaks fast with Muslim colleagues

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Monday evening had iftar (breaking of fast) with his Muslim colleagues in Abuja.

Akpabio said the diverse beliefs among Nigerians should not divide them but strengthen their unity.

“Religion cannot divide us,” he said at the event which other Christian senators also attended.

A statement by his media office said the Senate President stressed that it was not a mere coincidence that the Christian Lent and Muslim Ramadan periods took place at the same time.

He said it showed that even though Muslims and Christians have different religions, they both have only one God, the Supreme God.

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Akpabio said: “I want to congratulate all of us for breaking fast today and thank Almighty Allah for keeping us alive to see this day. I pray that He will continue to protect us and continue to look after our health, look after our families through this Ramadan period and also use this opportunity to congratulate you on the Easter celebration.

“It is not a coincidence that God is merging the fasting of the Muslims and that of Christians together. This is about the second or third time it is happening.

“The intention is to show that we may have different religions, but we have only one God, and that God is the Supreme God that looks after all of us.

“To the glory of God, the invitation was for those of us who are still around. Those who have not yet gone to Saudi Arabia, particularly for these last 10 days of Ramadan, that we should meet and break the fast together.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Monday evening, had Iftar (breaking of fast) with his Muslim colleagues in Abuja.

In his remarks at the occasion, which was also attended by some Senators who are of the Christian faith, Akpabio declared that “religion cannot divide us.”

According to a statement by his media office, the Senate President stressed that it was not a mere coincidence that the Christian Lent and Muslim Ramadan periods came up again same time.

He said it was to show that even though Muslims and Christians have different religions, they both have only one God, the Supreme God.

Akpabio said: “I want to congratulate all of us for breaking fast today and thank Almighty Allah for keeping us alive to see this day and pray that He will continue to protect us and continue to look after our health, look after our families through this Ramadan period and also use this opportunity to congratulate you on the Easter celebration.

“It is not a coincidence that God is merging the fasting of the Muslims and that of Christians together. This is about the second or third time it is happening.

“The intention is to show that we may have different religions, but we have only one God and that God is the Supreme God that looks after all of us.

“So to the glory of God, the invitation was for those of us who are still around. Those who have not yet gone to Saudi Arabia particularly for these last 10 days of Ramadan, that we should meet and break the fast together.

“And of course, we also invited the Christian Senators to come. For them, it’s a celebration of the Easter period. Coming together is all that we need. We need to continue to work together as brothers and sisters of the one Almighty God, for the benefit of our dear country. Religion cannot divide us.

“No matter the turmoil, no matter the political disagreement, even families do disagree. But we must bear one thing in mind, that we are serving humanity and we are serving humanity through Almighty God and that one day, we shall leave this world to go and account for our deeds while we were on earth. I think that is the guiding principle.

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“For every human being, there is a time to be born. There is a time to go. And this period of Ramadan, this period of Easter, reconnect us with God so that we know that we are not in this world for nothing.

“He sends us here for a purpose and that purpose is to live in peace with one another,  love one another, pray together, work for one another to ensure progress for humanity.

“So, on departing, we would have left legacies, an imprint that yes, we were here and others will take over from us. My prayer tonight is that God should enable us to leave a better future for all Nigerians.”

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin thanked the Senate President for inviting them to have Iftar with him.

“We are really grateful. This invitation is a demonstration of the care that you have for all Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We all know you as a very caring leader, someone who cares about the welfare of all Senators.

“This invitation has reinforced what we know about you. There is an adage in Hausa language that says: Inviting you to come is more delicious than the food.

“So when we heard about the invitation, we were very happy that you have us in mind and that you are very caring. So we thank you very much.

“May the Almighty Allah continue to be our guide, continue to support us as we work with the Executive arm of government to face the challenges we have and by the grace of God, we are going to change our challenges to prosperity. Within a short time by the grace of God, this country will become a land of eldorado,” Senator Barau said.

Senate president Godswill Akpabio has called on the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lend a strong voice to the restoration of lasting peace to war-torn Gaza.

Akpabio made the call while contributing to discussions at the ongoing 148th Session of the IPU Assembly, holding in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Senate president, according to a statement by his media office in Abuja, said it was time for nations to rise above sentiments and invoke the spirit of humanity, by doing all it requires to bring sustainable peace to the region.

Some of the resolutions according to Akpabio, should include access to humanitarian aid, restoration of normal life in Gaza, as well as meetings on a permanent truce.

He said: “Madam President, this is a lone voice from Nigeria. We tried our best in Angola and we failed to lend a collective voice to what is happening in Gaza.

“Today, the world is very expectant. We must drop ego. It has nothing to do with which country brings the proposal. The basic tenets of humanity demand that we leave here with a resolution for the rest of the world, to show that we have human feelings in us.

“The issues are very clear. If you notice the proposal for 12 blocs; they attempted to even marry the proposals from South Africa. Yes! South Africa has a right to be emotional, but we have children who are dying even as we are talking now.

“We have people who do not have water to drink even as we are talking now. We have people who are going to suffer infection from gunshots.

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“We have to show the world that we are human beings. The cessation of hostilities must be a part of our resolutions.

“Access to humanitarian aid must be a part of our resolutions. At the same time, the release of hostages and even those who are Prisoners of War, because if both sides take steps in releasing the hostages, releasing the Prisoners of War, it means that both sides have agreed the International Community can go to the next stage, which is negotiation for sustainable peace.

“If they cannot agree, I would urge that from here, we have a three-man drafting committee to come up with those resolutions which we must make before we leave here.

“We can no longer allow a child to die tonight, without lending our voice. It doesn’t matter which side. We are all parents. If we come here to look for ego and then, try to be emotional, it’s not affecting them.

“There’s nothing affecting Denmark, there’s nothing affecting South Africa. The people affected are over there and nobody will agree to the lone resolution from Israel. It must be all-encompassing so that we stand up from here as human beings. That would be my plea.

“Let them go aside, meet and remove those vexatious items. In the course of their discussions, we can have amendments, we can add items that we should add but we must discuss the Gaza issue in this 148th IPU Assembly. That is my position,” he said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has made a strong case for increased efforts in parliamentary diplomacy.

Akpabio, who spoke at the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and related meetings, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday, March 24, maintained that parliamentary diplomacy is quite critical to achieving peace in the world and resolving conflicts.

According to a statement by his special assistant on media (print), Jackson Udom, Akpabio called for more progress in parliamentary diplomacy, noting that though the Nigerian Parliament has explored the concept and achieved a myriad of successes, more can still be done.

He said: “The Parliament in Nigeria has played a crucial role in curbing polarisation and ensuring peace through legislation”.

Apart from the legislative function, Akpabio said the parliament also “employs mediation to address conflicts between non-governmental organisations and the government, as well as disputes involving labour unions.”

Akpabio, who shared the progress and initiatives of the 10th National Assembly under his leadership, said it has become imperative for the world to recognise the power of the collective voice in shaping a better future for all, as it is in a critical juncture in history.

 He said: “We stand at a pivotal moment in history, an intersection where the choices we make and the words that we speak, have the potential to positively shape the future of a world in constant crisis.

 “Therefore, we lend the voice of our country to the patriotic call for collective action to address the challenges facing our wonderful world.

“Nigeria has stunning kaleidoscopic diversity and a vibrant cultural heritage. The obverse side of this diversity is that Nigeria often faces the tragedy of commons where individuals and groups act in their self-interests, leading to the decline of shared resources.”

 He noted: “The government, with the support of the Parliament, has embarked on efforts to strengthen peace, collaboration, and unity.

“However, we are aware that the spectre of polarization along political, ethnic, gender, religious, or racial lines is a global menace that requires the concerted efforts of all governments and non-governmental organizations to overcome.

“In Nigeria, our Parliament plays a crucial role in curbing polarization and ensuring peace and progress through legislation. One notable legislative milestone in Nigeria was the passage of the “Not Too Young to Run” Bill in 2018, which aimed to widen the horizon for youth and women to actively participate in governance.

“Nigeria has also actively contributed, with the support of Parliament, to international peace and security by deploying troops for peacekeeping missions across Africa and beyond.

“Nigeria’s bicameral parliament plays a significant role in conflict prevention and resolution through regional parliamentary forums, fact-finding missions to conflict areas, and addressing cross-border issues related to refugees, arms smuggling, and war-related criminal activities.”

According to him, “Parliamentary friendship groups strengthen ties between parliaments of different countries and promote gender mainstreaming, democracy, and good governance.

“Preventive diplomacy is a powerful instrument for conflict prevention and peaceful mediation.

“Therefore, we engage in dialogue with foreign states to integrate peace-building into treaties and the constitution. The establishment of the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to combating insecurity by curbing the circulation of illicit arms in West Africa.”

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The Senate President also highlighted other areas where the “Nigerian Parliament has made and continues to make great achievements, including evaluation of political appointees based on merit and in strict adherence to the constitution rather than bias, based on political party affiliation, gender, religion, race, or ethnicity and holding government agencies accountable through investigative and public hearings, among measures.”

Akpabio stated further: “The achievements of the Nigerian Parliament in upholding international commitments, promoting peace-building, and holding the government accountable, are laudable”.

He, however, called for “more progress in parliamentary diplomacy and increase in peace-building capacity, not only in Nigeria but across all sovereign states, saying: “let us advert our minds to Martin Luther King, Jr’s admonition that all mankind is tied together; all life is interrelated, and we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of identity. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

“We must walk together, hand-in-hand even if we do not see eye-to-eye, in our march to reshape our world. We must remember that we are the eyes, the ears, the hands, and the minds of our people and we embody their hope for a brighter, more equitable future for this blessed world of ours. This, very distinguished ladies and gentlemen, is the legacy we owe the world.”

The Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) has described calls for the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio as mischievous.

The group, in a statement on Friday, said with the explanation given by the Senate and suspension of the Senator Abdul Ningi who raised the allegations, the matter ought to have been rested.

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had called for the resignation of the Senate President over alleged budget padding.

But PANDEF said there was no sincerity behind the call.

The statement signed by the groups National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ken Robinson, reads: “Those who are calling for the resignation of the Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over the alleged budget padding are being mischievous and their intentions are known.

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“It is unfortunate that certain politicians and public commentators take pleasure in creating instability in the polity.

“The allegations of budget padding, unspecified appropriations, or double budgets made by the suspended Senator Abdul Ningi have already been explained as misrepresentations.

“We will not justify any wrongdoing, but, it is unacceptable that people would deliberately bid to tarnish the reputation of the first Senate President from the South-South after 40 years.

“The people of the South-South region will not accept a situation where certain individuals or groups of people attempt to discredit their political leaders. Enough is enough, this country belongs to all of us!”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Friday, arrived in Geneva, Switzerland as head of Nigeria’s delegation to the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Akpabio was accompanied on the trip by the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong.

The Senate President and his entourage were received on arrival at the airport in Geneva by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Abiodun Richards Adejola accompanied by South African Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr. Mxolisi Nkosi.

This year’s edition, according to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Jackson Udom, would take place from 23- 27 of March, 2024.

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A letter addressed to the Nigerian Senate President and endorsed by the Secretary General of the IPU, Martin Chungong, reads: “Dear Mr President, the 148th Assembly of the IPU and related meetings will be held at the International Conference Centre of Geneva, (ICCG) Switzerland from Saturday, 23rd to Wednesday, 27th March, 2024.

“We are pleased to enclose detailed information on these meetings including the Agenda of the IPU statutory bodies. We very much hope that your parliament will be represented at the 148th Assembly and that the delegation under your leadership will take an active part in the proceedings.”

According to the statement, “At the last edition of the IPU which held in Luanda, Angola, Nigeria broke a 59-year-old jinx when Akpabio was elected into the Executive Committee of the global parliamentary body. The last time Nigeria had the privilege to be in the Executive Committee of IPU was in 1964.

“The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), global organization of national parliaments, was founded in 1889, and dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue. It has grown into a truly global organization with 179-member countries out of 193 countries of the world.

“Akpabio was also on 7th March, 2024, nominated by the African Parliamentary Union (APU) into the Preparatory Committee for the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament of the IPU.

“The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.”