Akpabio’s Strong Declaration Against Poverty

Akpabio’s Strong Declaration Against Poverty

By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo

“I am confident that we, as senators, can make a difference. We have been entrusted with an important role, and now is the time for courageous actions and strategies to drive this role.

Together, let us implement a culture of care and an integrated approach to combat poverty, restore dignity to the downtrodden, and protect our precious natural resources” The Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared.

Akpabio made the admonition on Tuesday, 30th April,2024 in his address to welcome senators from about four weeks of Easter and Sallah break which began on 20th March. He urged his colleagues not to forget that people are struggling with poverty and to ensure that dignity is restored to the marginalised.

The Senate President also remarked that “At the same time, let us not forget those trapped in the cycle of poverty.Our fight against poverty and hunger must be total and relentless, addressing its root causes…

His Excellency, President, Commander -in-Chief of the Armed forces of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and many fellow Nigerians are working tirelessly to tackle this issue. It is our duty to support and amplify their efforts. Let us support the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Governance is not a rocket science and a Friday that would be better can be determined from Thursday, my people in Ilorin usually say this. It is often said whenever they are expressing pessimism about an event or issue.

Akpbabio’s declaration was in good faith but Senate President should understand that making a statement is different from working it out. Be that as it may, he deserves accolades for urging his colleagues to brace up for quick action against poverty in Nigeria.

It was rumoured that there were pockets of lawmakers in the past who forgot their constituencies after securing victory at the poll.The interesting thing was that, they were not re-elected.

The Senate President message is for the good of senators and the citizens. If the lawmakers take it as a challenge to ensuring that poverty is reduced in our society, they would also be among the beneficiaries.

Akpabio’s declaration came at a time Nigerians are battling with inflation and fuel scarcity, so one can say it was timely and appropriate.As a good leader,you can’t look away when the citizens are not finding things easy and rosy.

The implication of the Senate President’s admonition to other senators is about showing empathy to their constituencies and ensured that they play their leading roles to bring down poverty.

Some politicians do not believe that there will be tomorrow when they would no longer have access to power. The pragmatic ones should understand this and work hard by reaching out to those who voted for them and by facilitating projects that would help their communities to quench the flames of poverty

It is not an exaggeration if one concludes that some electorates in Nigeria had suffered neglect in the hands of greedy politicians who only focused on trivial issues rather than the main business that would help in ameliorating poverty in the country.

As a responsible lawmaker, how can you shut your door after you have won the election? It doesn’t portray you even as one who is patriotic. It goes a long way to expose how myopic and egocentric your personality is.

I’m pretty sure the Senate president can’t be in the Senate for more than one term, if he has not been reaching out to his people.

The Senator representing Kwara Central in the 10th Senate and the Chairman Senate Committee on Agric Production Services and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha is also one of the senators whose doors are still open for the people of their Senatorial District. The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin has also done well in putting smile on the faces of his people in Kano North Senatorial Destrict.

As lawmakers and other government officials, it is a wake up call from Senate President that they should work hard and show empathy towards ensuring the reduction of poverty in Nigeria.

May Nigeria succeed.

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