The senate president, Mr Godswill Akpabio said the senate, under his leadership, will amend the Nigerian Constitution to accommodate the implementation of the Supreme Court’s verdict on local government autonomy.
Akpabio disclosed this in a statement signed by his aide on media, Mr Jackson Udom and made available to journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to the statement, the senate president made the pledge in Uyo when he received some members of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) who recently returned to the party after trying their luck in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Akpabio expressed his appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for revisiting the issue of local government autonomy through the intervention of the Supreme Court.
“The senate, under my leadership will tinker with the constitution to ensure that the judgment is fully implemented without any loopholes for manipulation by the practitioners.
“I am today the president of the senate, through the grace of God Almighty, the support of President Bola Tinubu and my distinguished colleagues who elected me.
“God knew that I meant well for our people; so he elevated me to the position of the president of the senate.
“When you raise people, your hands remain up and when you bring people down, your hands will also be down. So, follow person wey know road,” he said.
Speaking on the political prodigal children who made a come-back to the party, Akpabio said change is the only thing that is permanent in life.
He said prior to his joining the APC in 2018, the party did not have a dog’s chance to win even a councillorship seat in the state.
He said the party’s leaders treated him as an enemy and worked against the APC and his senatorial ambition in 2019.
“We had the best chance to have won the governorship and other elections in the state, but the then leaders refused to see it from that angle.
” I joined the APC so that we would be linked to the centre and I thank God today that that dream finally came to pass in 2023.
“I am happy that you have all returned to the party where you belonged. Now that you are back, May God bless you and grant the progressive desires of your hearts.” he stated.
Responding, Messrs Eteubong Umoh, Kufre Akpan and Mrs Roseline Eyang who spoke in turn said they never left the APC.
“We never joined any other party, because we know you as the leader of the party in the state. We all recognize the President of the Senate as our leader in the state.
“We refused to be weapons of war in the hands of anybody against you and the party leadership.
“We are happy that we are all here today. There is no division in the APC because we are now one united family,” they said.
