By Prominent socio-political commentator, Reno Omokri, has issued a rallying call to the South-South geopolitical zone to rally behind Senate President Godswill Akpabio, describing him as a critical stabilising force in Nigeria’s current political landscape.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Omokri declared Akpabio the undisputed political leader of the South-South, urging the region to display political maturity and ethnic cohesion by supporting his uninterrupted tenure as Senate President, akin to the eight-year leadership of Senator David Mark from 2007 to 2015.
Senator Godswill Akpabio
“As a region, we in the South-South cannot afford to demonstrate political instability in that position, which is a key post in the hierarchy of power in Nigeria,” Omokri stated. “It is a strategic office that is more vital than any other in maintaining the balance of power in our region.”
He appealed to stakeholders across party lines and religious divides to temporarily set aside their differences and rally behind Akpabio, whom he described as “the leader God has given us for this period in time.”
Omokri highlighted the cooperative relationship between the executive and legislative arms under Akpabio’s leadership, asserting that his stewardship has helped President Bola Tinubu enjoy unprecedented legislative support.
Reno Omokri and President Bola Tinubu
He cited the successful passage of key tax reform bills — including the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill and the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill — as examples of Akpabio’s steady hand.
“President Buhari did not enjoy this benevolence in his first term,” he noted, suggesting that such progress would have been impossible under a “temperamental Senate President from a politically unstable region.”
Former President Muhammadu Buhari
Warning against alleged plots and smear campaigns targeting Akpabio, Omokri stated that any attack on the Senate President was tantamount to an assault on President Tinubu’s legislative agenda and, by extension, his Renewed Hope vision for Nigeria.
“Any weapon fashioned against Senator Godswill Akpabio, whether by professional ‘sexpionage’ blackmailers or what have you, is not just a threat to the South-South but a direct missile aimed at President Bola Tinubu’s legislative agenda,” he declared.
In a scathing commentary, Omokri decried alleged conspiracies involving actors from outside the region and accused detractors of attempting to destabilise the South-South through politically motivated scandals. Drawing a historical parallel, he warned against repeating the treatment meted out to former President Goodluck Jonathan, also from the South-South.
“We must not allow what was done to President Goodluck Jonathan to be repeated with Senator Godswill Akpabio,” he said.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
The statement concluded with a passionate appeal for unity and vigilance within the region. “We in the South-South must unite behind him to preserve what God has given us in the present power dynamics of Nigeria,” Omokri added.
Reno Omokri is a bestselling author and former presidential aide under President Goodluck Jonathan, known for his outspoken views on Nigerian politics and governance.
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