Akpabio: I hold governors in high esteem — N30bn to states remark misunderstood

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says his remark on how much each governor purportedly received from the federal government, in the face of economic hardship, was misunderstood and taken out of context. 

Speaking on the floor of the upper legislative chamber during plenary, Akpabio had said “unverified reports” detailed that governors were given N30 billion each — outside their normal allocations — to ameliorate the suffering in the land.

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo and deputy chair of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), denied the claim. 

In a statement on Monday night, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio’s spokesperson, said the senate president was only urging state governments to collaborate with the federal government.

“The unfortunate conjectures to take away the kernel in the material facts of FAAC payment are rather regretted,” the statement reads.

“In considering the well-intended motive of urging state governments to collaborate with the federal government of President Bola Tinubu to facilitate strategic interventions to mitigate the prevailing economic situation in the country remains the underpinning motivation in the comment.

“The President of the Senate is not oblivious to the fact that state governments are functional partners in all the efforts of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu and are also valuable stakeholders’ in the various legislative engagements of the legislature in creating the nexus between the legislature and the people.

“The President of the Senate has always demonstrated commitment to team building and shall not do less in this circumstance.

“He therefore urges the sub-national governments not to be distracted by any misunderstanding of the context and true meaning of the statement.”

Eyiboh said Akpabio “recognises and appreciates the current efforts of the governors at ameliorating the adverse effects of the current inclement socio-economic environment, and therefore invites more hands on the plow to complement the renewed hope agenda”.