Why National Assembly can’t go against Tinubu – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio asserts that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recognizes the critical role of the legislature within a democratic framework, which is reflected in his amicable rapport with the National Assembly.

He further emphasized that the federal legislators cannot partake in actions that jeopardize Tinubu’s administration, as the president has effectively consolidated influence over both chambers of the National Assembly.

Akpabio, addressing attendees at a Public Lecture and Book Launch in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, remarked that Tinubu has skillfully persuaded him and his colleagues to align with his directives through the bestowal of GCON upon them.

The occasion was organized to commemorate the birthday of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The Senate President indicated that any leader seeking to thrive akin to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must maintain a close relationship with the Speaker and the Senate President, mirroring the strong ties Tinubu has established with them.

He noted that the only entity capable of challenging a governor is the House of Assembly, and no judicial body or democratic principle can prevent that from occurring.

Akpabio said, “Recently he conferred on us GCON, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, whether he loved it or not he did it. He muscled the two Chambers together.

“For those of you, who may not understand politics, we were taught that the parliament can turn a woman into a man and a man into a woman. As a governor my greatest fear was my House of Assembly.

“So because of that I never travelled anywhere without my Speaker. Any time I didn’t see him for a day, I would send somebody to his house to invite him to come and have a launch with me and I used ideas to look at his face to know whether he was happy with me or not.

“The only place that can hurt a governor is the House of Assembly and no court or democracy can stop that from happening. Any President that wants to survive like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must hold the speaker and the Senate President very closely the way he is holding us.”