The march for the top senatorial position in Nigeria is underway and many ties are gradually frazzling in the weight of vain expectations and vainer calculations. As more and more ‘aspirants’ are being whittled out of the picture, others are becoming more and more substantial. Senator Godswill Akpabio is reported to belong to this latter class. As a result, he has also signed up for resentment and animosity among some of his senatorial buddies.
There are too many reports online about Akpabio’s new rivals and those forming groups to ensure that he does not become the Senate President in the regime of President-elect, Bola Tinubu. One cannot tell the truth from falsehood. However, whether all these reported machinations will lead to something worth preparing against is another story.
One of the most popular of these narratives has it that a high-ranking Senator is a leading force working against the possible emergence of Akpabio as Senate President. According to the rumour, even though he and Akpabio have no unresolved issue between them, he takes umbrage at the fact that Akpabio supported Tinubu instead of him during the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Although there is no supported evidence, reports are going around that the grudge against Akpabio is so serious that the heb has already set up a structure to ensure that Akpabio’s aspirations do not go anywhere. Moreover, it is alleged that he believes that Akpabio has no support base back in Akwa Ibom, and so will not be able to make the cut-off list.
If these things are true, there is fire on the mountain for everyone involved. Whether or not Akpabio eventually becomes Senate President, someone is going to lose out. Thus, one must commend the courage of the high-ranking senators who have allegedly become foot soldiers in their purported schemes.
