Senate President Chief Godswill Akpabio has asserted that Nigeria’s economy was already in a precarious state prior to President Bola Tinubu’s election in 2023.
Akpabio emphasized that Tinubu is committed to revitalizing the economy and improving the lives of Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or political backgrounds.
Speaking during his Constituency Briefing/Empowerment event in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, he remarked, “President Tinubu inherited a troubling situation; no one envied his position. He has expressed a strong determination to make a difference, and we should support his efforts. We believe that in due time, he will advance the nation, just as he did in Lagos. Given time, he will guide us toward our own version of El Dorado.”
Akpabio further highlighted that Nigeria was in a dire state when citizens elected Tinubu as president. He recounted a conversation with the president, who, upon assessing the economic landscape left by former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, affirmed his resolve to bring about change.
He also pointed out that Tinubu has positively impacted many lives through ongoing constituency projects throughout the country. The establishment of regional commissions, he noted, is designed to foster regional development and empower the populace.
Additionally, Akpabio claimed that Tinubu has demonstrated significant support for the South East by assigning them crucial ministerial roles, including the Ministry of Works, and formally enacting the South East Development Commission. He assured that other regional development commissions would soon follow.
“The president has shown affection for the South East by signing the South East Development Commission into law and allocating key ministries based on necessity rather than electoral outcomes. The South East faces numerous ecological challenges and poor road conditions, similar to those in the South South region.
Mr. President’s decision to appoint us to the Ministry of Works, along with other vital ministries, including petroleum and gas, is commendable. Akwa Ibom is rich in gas resources, stretching from Utapete to Ibeno. Furthermore, the president has allowed our state to produce the number three citizen, the Senate President, an opportunity we last had in 1979. President Tinubu deserves our unwavering support,” Akpabio concluded.
