Akpabio attributes Nigeria’s faltering economy to Emefiele

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has blamed the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for the country’s declining economy. He pleads with Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu as he works to close the hole he left in the nation’s treasury for the benefit of all.

According to Akpabio, who described the economy as frothy and was left reeling by Emefiele, Tinubu took over a shattered economy, which he has been attempting to stabilize by using his acumen to steer clear of the grip of corruption and sleaze.

The Senate President spoke at Ikot Ekpene Stadium this past weekend at a reception organised by his colleagues from the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District to honour him and his fellow members of the National Assembly.

Akpabio expressed optimism and faith that the economy will rebound stronger and guaranteed that President Tinubu has the ability to put the economy back on the growth trajectory, just as he did when he was governor and led Lagos to become one of the most prosperous regions in Africa.

He emphasized that the three former governors—Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor; Kashim Shettima, a former Borno State governor; and him, a former Akwa Ibom State governor—would pool their political and socioeconomic governance expertise and be inspired to save the nation for the benefit of all Nigerians.

In addition to promising an all-encompassing federal presence, Akpabio assured the people of the state, the South-South region, and the nation that the coastal road that would connect Lagos to Calabar would pass through several states in the Southwest, Southeast, and South-South political zones and bring with it attendant socioeconomic developments.

The Senate President also urged Pastor Umo Eno, the host governor, to communicate with Chief Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in order to expand the current road project from neighboring Abia State to Ini, Ikono, and Ikot Ekpene in order to connect Uyo, the state capital. Pastor Eno was also given assurances about the Deep Seaport and other federal government projects.

“You have asked of Seaport; you will not only get Seaport; you get roads, flyovers, and other federal projects, and we are going to do this because of you,” he stressed but impressed it on the governor to live above board as a pastor.

Senator Akpabio’s leadership qualities were also praised by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu. They noted that as the Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio has been a stabilizing force and a “Unifier-in-Chief” who is fostering harmony between the executive and legislative branches.

The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, commended President Tinubu for selecting an Akwa Ibom son deserving of the esteemed rank of third citizen. He also promised to collaborate with the center despite differences in political ideologies in order to further development in the state.

He pleased with the Senate President to use his authority as the third-ranking citizen to persuade the federal government to support the state’s establishment of the Ibom Deep Seaport, a palm oil refinery, and a depot for petroleum products.

He clarified that Nigeria would benefit economically from the seaport’s expansion in the Gulf of Guinea, which boasts the country’s longest and deepest water stretch.

“I welcome our distinguished senators, led by our son, the senate president, to Akwa Ibom State. Since the creation of this state and especially since the return of democracy, we have been blessed with very patriotic and dedicated leaders, from the days of Obong Victor Attah to the uncommon era of my grandfather, the senate president, to my political father, the immediate past Governor Udom Emmanuel to date.

“Past governors before me did a lot for the state during their times; all we have to do now is maintain those facilities and also put in place some new infrastructure where necessary.

“As a government, we will continue to partner with you and President Tinubu. Your love and commitment to the unity of our dear state are enough to put the state on a high pedestal of development.

“God brought me at this time, by His grace, to bring about the reconciliation of His people. As they say, united we stand, divided we fall. If we must get anything for our state at the federal level and want our state to remain the envy of others, we have no alternative but to work together as a team.”