The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has disapproved a news report alleging he is an habitual late comer to Senate Plenary since assumption of office in June 2023.
It was reportedly alleged in an online news last week that Akpabio’s penchant for coming late on plenary days in the Senate, has not only affected the workings of the red chamber but negatively rubbed off on serving Senators with attendant bottled anger which may explode at anytime.
Akpabio in the report , was specifically alleged to, since assumption of office in June last year , come late for plenary between 11:30am and 12:00noon as against 10:00am , his predecessors came for the very important Senate assignment.
But in a rebuttal issued on Sunday in Abuja, Akpabio described the report as nothing but rotten apple that cannot be marketed.
The rebuttal signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon Eseme Eyiboh reads: ” 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 Distiguished 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.
“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 Plenary. 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, therefore, advise those spreading the gospel of Akpabio’s purported lateness to Plenary to apply brakes and allow the Uncommon Senate President concentrate on doing what he knows best- giving his all look to the service of the nation and humanity.”