Godswill Akpabio: The Senate President Uses 30,000-Capacity Stadium for Birthday

The Senate President marks his 61st birthday on the 9th of December 2023 at a glamorous but publicly funded scale party in Akwa Ibom, Uyo. As alleged, using public funds to obtain a 30,000-capacity stadium for a birthday party is nothing but a drawback to the government’s intent on cutting costs and raising public trust.

Public service is not a work of self-aggrandizing show of publicity but of courage to stand by citizens and national interest. In the case of Nigeria, what we have is a show of weaponized poverty where those who don’t have money worship those who got rich, looting their commonwealth. Whatever happens to the rule of law in its practical sense is far away from the kind of Democracy Nigeria pretends to be.

However, the argument that Nigeria deserves the kind of leaders they have is not, in its absoluteness, a correct statement of belief or reality. What is happening is a practical expression of demoralization, i.e. when the citizens are made to be subjected to whatever is being offered to them as enshrined with low confidence or courage to question the reality most are a victim of, then it is correct to say the government’s goal to demoralize citizens to maintain status quo has been achieved. Though not in its entirety, the elasticity of stretch left of Nigerian’s tolerance will elapse only when they, by reaction and or action, express the popular saying “Enough is enough”.

Fueling a jet to a publicly funded crowd to mark the day of birth of the Senate President isn’t part of the job, but what do I know when any howness is the new state of Nigeria’s reality? No serious nation subjects itself to poverty or worshipping those whose wealth is questionable, but upholding the rule of law is the difference thereof. Nigerians can’t get over demanding change if and when it matters most during the election.

Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday, who also joined other citizens of the country in celebrating the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who turned 61 years old on Saturday spoke at the event which was held at the Godswill International Stadium, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the President’s wife said the Senate President had displayed exemplary leadership, fostered unity, and promoted the interest of many Nigerians. An expression that citizens are meant to take as proof that during the Senator’s tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom, Uyo, is enjoined with his performance to state development and a show of thanking him with a 30,000-capacity packed stadium.

This concern has caused several critics on social media to put out tweets to express both their shock and displeasure at how public funds are mismanaged. At the same time, Nigerian politicians neglect citizens’ prioritization.

About The Author

Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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