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Godswill Akpabio

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Godswill Akpabio
GCON CON
Portrait of Godswill Akpabio
Akpabio in 2012
15th President of the Nigerian Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 June 2023
DeputyBarau Jibrin
Preceded byAhmad Lawan
Senator for Akwa Ibom North-West
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 June 2023
Preceded byChris Ekpenyong
In office
9 June 2015 – 9 June 2019
Preceded byAloysius Akpan Etok
Succeeded byChris Ekpenyong
Minister for Niger Delta Affairs
In office
21 August 2019 – 11 May 2022
Preceded byUsani Uguru Usani
Succeeded byUmana Okon Umana
Senate Minority Leader
In office
28 July 2015 – 7 August 2018
Preceded byGeorge Akume
Succeeded byAbiodun Olujimi
3rd Governor of Akwa Ibom State
In office
29 May 2007 – 29 May 2015
Preceded byObong Victor Attah
Succeeded byUdom Gabriel Emmanuel
Personal details
Born (1962-12-09) 9 December 1962 (age 61)
Ukana, Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim, Eastern Region, Nigeria (now in Akwa Ibom State)
Political partyAll Progressives Congress (2018–present)
Other political
affiliations		Peoples Democratic Party (before 2018)
SpouseEkaette Unoma Akpabio
Alma materUniversity of Calabar
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer

Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio GCON CON[1] (Ibibio pronunciationⓘ; born 9 December 1962) is a Nigerian lawyer[2] and politician who is currently serving as the 15th president of the Nigerian Senate since 2023.[3][4] He was first elected as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District in 2015, lost in the 2019 senatorial elections and won in the 2023 elections.[5][6] He also served as minister for Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 up till 2022 when he resigned to seek re-election into the Nigerian senate.[7] He had previously served as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015.[8]

Early life and career

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Godswill Akpabio is the son of Chief Obot Akpabio and Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio (née Inyangetor) of Ukana, Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Government Area.[9] He was born on 9 December 1962.[10] He lost his father at an early age and was raised by his mother.[11]

Education

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Akpabio was educated at Methodist Primary School, Ukana,[12] Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State; the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt,[13] Rivers State; and the University of Calabar,[14] Cross River State, where he obtained a Degree in Law.[15][16]

While at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, he was appointed the Senior Prefect.[12] In the University of Calabar, Akpabio was elected as the Student Union Government (SUG) Speaker of the parliamentary year.[17][9]

Family and personal life

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Akpabio's grandfather, Okuku Udo Akpabio, was the Warrant Chief in Ikot Ekpene province. His uncle, Dr. I. U. Akpabio, was the Minister of Education/Internal Affairs in the then Eastern Nigeria. Justice Nsima Akpabio, his cousin, was a senator in the Second Nigerian Republic.[9]

Akpabio is a Christian of the Catholic faith.[11] He is married to Ekaette Unoma Akpabio,[18] the founder of the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI), a non-governmental organization aimed at redirecting development efforts towards families as a strategy for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).[19][20][21][22]

Akpabio and his wife have four daughters and one son.

Career and employment

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Akpabio briefly worked as a teacher before joining Paul Usoro and Co., a prominent law firm in Nigeria as an associate partner.[23][24]

He later worked with EMIS Telecoms Limited, a wireless telecommunications company based in Lagos, Nigeria. By 2002, he had become Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.[24] Prior to this, he served as the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria, (ATCOM), while also serving as a director of EMIS.[25]

Appointments and politics

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In 2002, he was appointed Honourable Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources by the then Governor Obong Victor Attah in Akwa Ibom State. Between 2002 and 2006, he served as a Commissioner in three key ministries: Petroleum and Natural Resources, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as Lands and Housing.[24][11][26]

In 2006, he aspired for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State in a contested primary election and defeated 57 other aspirants to emerge the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).[27] His campaign with the slogan, "let God's will be done" received mass support and was elected Governor in 2007. He was re-elected for a second term in office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2011.[28]

In 2013, he was elected chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors Forum.[29]

In 2015, he contested and won the Senate seat of the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District (Ikot Ekpene) to represent the district in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Running under the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), he polled 422,009 of the 439,449 to defeat Chief Inibehe Okorie of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who recorded 15,152 votes to be declared elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).[5]

Akpabio was nominated for the position of the Senate Minority Leader by the South-South caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ratified by the caucus of the PDP in the Senate and announced by the Senate President as Senate Minority Leader on 28 July 2015. The PDP lost the majority to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2015 general elections.[30][31]

In August 2018, he resigned as the Senate Minority Leader,[32] after he had announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress. His defection was marked by a Political rally in his hometown at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium, Akwa Ibom State.[33]

In July 2019, he was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari and screened by the Nigerian Senate for a Ministerial appointment.[34]

On 21 August 2019, he was sworn in as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs.[35][36]

In June 2022, Akpabio resigned from his position as minister for Niger Delta Affairs to contest in the presidential primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but stepped down on the night of the primaries for the eventual winner Bola Tinubu. A few days after the presidential primaries, he emerged as the Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District. However, it was fraught with accusations of foul play by stakeholders of the party in the State. He went on to defeat his closest rival Emmanuel Enoidem of the Peoples Democratic Party to become the senator-elect in the 2023 general elections polling 115,401 votes, against Enoidem's 69,838 votes.[37]

On 13 June 2023, he was elected President of the Senate of Nigeria with 63 votes defeating Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State who scored 46 votes.[38][39][40]

Corruption accusations

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Godswill Akpabio was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on accusations that he diverted over 100 billion Naira from Akwa Ibom State during his time as governor (2007-2015) with American diplomats calling the level of corruption "exceptional" during his tenure.[41][42] However, no charges have been filed.[43] A lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong who also accused Akpabio of corruption, was later arraigned by the police in court for defamation.[44]

In May 2020, Akpabio was summoned by members of the House of Representatives over the misappropriation of 40 billion Naira.[45]

Honours

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International honours

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National honours

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Academic & professional honours

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Media honours

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Chief Godswill Akpabio, Commander of the Order of the Niger". Ibom Pulpit. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Senator Godswill Akpabio clocks 55". The Next Edition. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  3. ^ Oyero, Kayode (13 June 2023). "Akpabio Sworn in As Senate President". Channels TV. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  4. ^ Obeme-Ndukwe, Ifunanya (13 June 2023). "Akpabio elected Senate President". Daily Post. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Akpabio wins Senate Seat in Akwa Ibom State". globalvillenews.com. 30 March 2015. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Senate Announces Akpabio As Minority Leader". Channels TV. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  7. ^ Tolu-Kolawole, Deborah (11 May 2022). "Akpabio resigns as Malami's aide keeps mum". The Punch. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  8. ^ Kogbara, Donu (30 July 2021). "Enough is enough". Vanguard. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "3rd Annual Lecture 2013 Award winners » Gounna Nigeria". Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  10. ^ "For the Record: Official citations of Buhari's ministers, SGF". Premium Times. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d "Info" (PDF). akwaibomnewsonline.com. 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Inkbrandagency.com". ngf.inkbrandagency.com.
  13. ^ "Akpabio to Nigerians: Strengthen spirit of nationalism". News Express. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  14. ^ "The Horizon by Kayode Komolafe". This Day. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Why 'Class 88' is successful, by Akpabio". The Nation. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Celebrating Law School Classes". The Nation. 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Open Letter to Sunday Asefon South West NANs Coordinator: "Your Ultimatum to Governor Akpabio is an affront on our collective struggle" - Ubon Marcus". africanewspress.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  18. ^ Umanah, Aniekan (8 June 2011). "Unoma Akpabio: An epitome of compassion @ 40". Vanguard. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  19. ^ "About FLEI". Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  20. ^ "*EKAETTE UNOMA AKPABIO:* Undying Hope on the Dais". pointblanknews.com. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  21. ^ "Ekaette Unoma Akpabio: Bringing hope to the hopeless". This Day. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  22. ^ "Family Enhancement Initiative at 5: Unoma Akpabio Still Dishing Out Milk of Human Kindness". First News. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  23. ^ "Paul Usoro & Co Leading Law Firm in Nigeria". Paul Usoro & Co Leading Law Firm in Nigeria. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  24. ^ a b c "Opinion: Celebrating Akpabio at 52". The Will. 25 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Akwa Ibom Past News". igbofocus.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  26. ^ a b c "Godswill Obot Akpabio: The Man of the Moment". National Daily. 13 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  27. ^ Umanah, Aniekan (8 December 2012). "Akpabio: The game changer strikes gold". News Express Nigeria. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  28. ^ "Nigerian Music, Video, Album, Mixtape & Entertainment News » Naijaturnup". Naijaturnup. 27 March 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  29. ^ Nebianet, Usaini (25 February 2013). "Governor Godswill Akpabio Emerges Chairman of PDP Governor's Forum". Silverbird Television. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  30. ^ "Akpabio emerges Senate Minority Leader". Premium Times. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  31. ^ "Akpabio is senate minority leader". TheCable. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  32. ^ "Akpabio drops Senate Minority leader post". Vanguard. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Akpabio formally defects to APC". 8 August 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  34. ^ "Ministerial screening: I will do my best in any ministry —Akpabio". The Punch. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  35. ^ "JUST IN: Full List: Buhari assigns portfolios to new Ministers". Oak TV Newstrack. 21 August 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  36. ^ Ulom, Frank (21 August 2019). "Full List of Ministers And Their Portfolios". The Paradise. Paradise Media Venture. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  37. ^ "#NigeriaDecides2023: Akpabio wins senatorial election". Premium Times. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  38. ^ Omogbolagun, Tope (13 June 2023). "Meet Akpabio, the 10th National Assembly Senate President". The Punch. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  39. ^ Olufemi, Damilola (13 June 2023). "Akpabio elected Senate President". The Punch. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  40. ^ "Godswill Akpabio Senate President". 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  41. ^ "N108bn fraud: EFCC keeps mum on Akpabio probe". The Punch. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  42. ^ "The Gang of 43 breaks cover". Africa Confidential. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2021. During Akpabio's tenure as governor in Akwa Ibom, the level of corruption was 'exceptional', according to US diplomats at the time. So was political violence.
  43. ^ "Nine ex-govs whose corruption cases are forgotten". The Punch. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  44. ^ Tukur, Sani (5 November 2015). "Lawyer who accused Akpabio of corruption charged with defamation". Premium Times. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  45. ^ "Lawmakers Summon Akpabio Over Fraud, Corruption in NDDC". Sahara Reporters. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  46. ^ "The Nation Newspaper Nigeria – Read Latest Nigeria News". The Nation. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  47. ^ "Akpabio Receives Millennium Excellence Award | the Ibom Pulpit". Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  48. ^ a b c "Akpabio: The Man Who Redefined Governance". The Nigerian Voice. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  49. ^ "State News: Governor Akpabio Receives National Honour for Uncommon Dev". Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  50. ^ "Governor Akpabio Receives National Honour". Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  51. ^ a b c d e "Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio CON: An exemplary life of Service". Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  52. ^ "Home". sharpedgenews.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  53. ^ "Central Bank Names Akpabio Best Governor in Infrastructure | the Ibom Pulpit". Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  54. ^ "Governor of Akwa-Ibom and CBN Win Award on Good Governance – Economic Confidential". Economic Confidential. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  55. ^ "Akpabio: Honours without end". The Nation. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  56. ^ "Akpabio urges Nigerians to embrace dialogue". Vanguard. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  57. ^ a b Nkwopara, Chidi (30 November 2011). "FUTO honours Sambo, Akpabio with doctorate degrees". Vanguard. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  58. ^ Akpan-Iquot, Itoro E. "UNN Convocation And The Akpabio Example". Akwa Ibom News. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  59. ^ a b c d e "Akpabio and the goldfish syndrome". Vanguard. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  60. ^ "FUTO honours Sambo, Akpabio with doctorate degrees". nigeria70.com. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  61. ^ a b "New 007 mission for Jaguar Land Rover". 24 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  62. ^ "Akpabio bags Best Governor in Africa Award". Vanguard. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  63. ^ "Akpabio Bags Best Governor in Africa Award – Pointblank News". pointblanknews.com. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  64. ^ Odemwingie, Edegbe (9 December 2022). "LEADERSHIP Server Is Busy". Leadership. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  65. ^ "Akpabio is Tribune's Gov of the Year...Sanusi, Tribune's Man of the Year – Tribune News". nigeria70.com. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  66. ^ Ndueso, Essien (5 April 2010). "Akpabio's Arithmetic of Governance". Akwa Ibom News. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  67. ^ "Man of the year; Daily Independent picks Gov Akpabio, Adenuga". Vanguard. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  68. ^ a b c "AKPABIO: A Toast to the Uncommon Transformer at 49". nigerianbestforum.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
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