In an apparent show of solidarity towards the ambition of the Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Senator Godswill Akpabio to emerge as the President of the 10th Senate, Senators and Senators-elect overwhelmingly trooped out to back him up at a State banquet organised by the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt.
The State banquet was in honour of the visiting President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was on a two day visit to Rivers State to commission projects embarked upon by Governor Wike.
Ace Master of Ceremony, Ali Baba had announced that “the President-elect has also asked that he would like for us to recognize members of the National Assembly that are here. The President-elect has also asked that I invite to speak Senator Godswill Akpabio.”
No sooner had Senator Akpabio grabbed the microphone than about 40 Senators who travelled in his entourage to Port Harcourt trooped out to the stage to back him up, a move that attracted a resounding applause from the gathering.
Senator Akpabio who recognized the presence of Senator Jubrin Barau and his other fellow Senators and Senators-elect, had hardly said: “To God be the glory” when about 40 Senators rushed out to join him on stage.
Senator Akpabio said the Senators were in Port Harcourt in solidarity with Asiwaju Tinubu whom they would be working with to bring dividends of democracy to Nigerians through legislation.
Addresisg the President-elect Senator Akpabio said: “they are the ones that are going to evaluate your policies. They are the ones that are going to advice on a daily basis and they are the ones that are going to show you total loyalty to bring peace to Nigeria.
“Standing before you here are Senators from NNPP, Senators from Labour Party, Senators from PDP, Senators from YPP and Senators from APC. Mr President we have 109 Senators but 60 of us were supposed to be here tonight. We did not have enough aircraft to convey everyone.
Senator Akpabio congratulated the G5 Governors led by Governor Wike for the sacrifices they made towards the unity of Nigeria by the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as a visionary leader.
He praised Governor Wike for the infrastructural development of Rivers State and said he was the best performing Governor in the Niger Delta.
