By Ima Nkanga
The Confederation of South-South Legislative Aides (CONSSLA) and the Concerned Aides of the National Assembly have jointly expressed their unwavering support for the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, describing him as a humane and people-centered leader committed to national progress and human development.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the groups commended Senator Akpabio’s leadership style, describing him as compassionate, fair, and deeply respectful of those who work with him. They dismissed recent criticisms leveled against him as malicious and baseless, stating that no legislative aide attached to his office or within the National Assembly’s over 6,000 aides has reported any form of harassment or high-handedness.
“Senator Akpabio is a leader known for his fatherly warmth, his dedication to inclusivity, and a deep-seated passion for empowering others,” the statement read. The aides cited his days as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, where he launched numerous empowerment initiatives that cut across ethnic and social boundaries, transforming many lives.
The statement also highlighted Akpabio’s recent interventions in sensitive matters, including the case involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The aides praised his maturity and reconciliatory approach, noting that he provided an opportunity for peaceful resolution through dialogue.
They also defended the integrity of Mr. Mfon Patrick, a Senior Legislative Aide whose name surfaced in an ongoing legal matter, commending Senator Akpabio’s decision to allow due process rather than bow to public pressure.
In a further show of his humane disposition, Akpabio ensured that the legislative aides attached to the suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan continued to receive their entitlements despite a recommendation for their suspension. “Such a gesture demonstrates his commitment to fairness and to protecting the livelihoods of ordinary Nigerians,” the groups stated.
The aides lauded the Senate for standing by its President through a unanimous Vote of Confidence, applauding senators like Peter Nwebonyi for their vocal support of Akpabio’s integrity and leadership.
Calling on the public to disregard what they described as “sponsored publications and malicious narratives” on social media, the legislative aides reaffirmed their belief in Senator Akpabio’s divine ordination to lead the 10th Senate and play a key role in stabilizing Nigeria’s socio-economic direction.
They concluded by also commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for strides in infrastructure and peace-building, particularly across the South-South region, and called on Nigerians to continue to support the administration for sustained national progress.
