By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Special Adviser to the President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, has explained why his principal, Senator Godswill Akpabio, sometimes delays the commencement of plenary.
He said Akpabio usually holds principal officers meetings and would also attend to individual senators who want to move motions on urgent national importance as required by the rules of the red chamber.
Eyiboh who made the explanation in a statement on Sunday, was reacting to a recent story by a popular online medium which gave details of how Akpabio had been arriving late for plenary.
The Senate President’s aide said he would have ignored the story but decided to react to it to enlighten and educate the reading public.
He said, “First, as opposed to what has been bandied in the media that Akpabio is known for lateness to Plenary, being an intellectual politician and leader, he believes in Benjamin Franklin’s philosophy of ‘Time is money’.
“To him, time is of the essence. And this is exemplified in his sterling achievements in private and public life. Without good time management skills, he could not have attained these feats.
“Secondly, Senator Akpabio as Senate President has absolute respect and regard for his distinguished colleagues and indeed all Nigerians.
“As the Senate President, he is not oblivious of the fact that he is just one among equals and has no cause whatsoever to undermine the elevated status of distinguished Senators by always keeping them waiting in plenary.
“However, we want the public to know that as Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio and his colleagues are very experienced and conversant with the legislative dynamics and are aware of the enormous legislative and administrative responsibilities of the office of the President of the Senate.
“Disruptions or lateness to any schedule of the heads of arms of government, particularly the National Assembly, are usually prioritised, not compromised.
“As the Presiding Officer, Akpabio meets with the Principal Officers before every Plenary, and emergency issues do spring up, which deserve urgent attention.
“Again, at every other plenary, there are always motions of urgent public/national importance from distinguished senators.”
Eyiboh further explained that by the provisions of the Standing Orders and Rules of the Senate, Senators with such motions are required to meet with the Presiding Officer before the Plenary.
He said, “Some of these issues are so urgent and cannot be kept in view and the President of the Senate is expected to attend to them expeditiously before commencement of Plenary. These circumstances most times creep into the commencement time
“The lateness of the President of the Senate to the plenary at any insignificant number of times has never affected the industry of the Senate or deliberately intended to deconstruct the core mandate of the Senate President’s parliamentary core mandate.
“Any insinuation suggesting that Senator Akpabio is “habitually late” and it dates back to when he was Akwa Ibom State governor is but selling a rotten apple, which no discerning mind will buy.
“We can say without equivocation that Senator Godswill Akpabio’s penchant for beating the clock is never in doubt both in appointed and elected positions he has held.
“We, therefore, advise those spreading the gospel of Akpabio’s purported lateness to Plenary to apply brakes and allow the Uncommon Senate President to concentrate on doing what he knows best- giving his all to the s
ervice of the nation and humanity.”
