Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, is not a ‘habitual latecomer’ to plenary sessions neither does his lateness disrupt scheduled legislative activities, his office said on Sunday.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, made this assertion in a statement in Abuja.
Eyiboh was reacting to a media report which accused Akpabio of “habitual lateness to every plenary sitting since he was elected to the position by his colleague senators last June.”
The report also alleged that “Akpabio’s tardiness” had been disrupting the legislative business of the Senate.
However, Eyiboh in his statement titled: “Akpabio believes in essence of time and value of his colleagues” described the allegation as false.
He said Akpabio’s philosophy of “time is money” and that “time is of essence” is exemplified in his sterling achievements in private and public life.
“Without good time management skills, he could not have attained these feats,” Eyiboh said.
He insisted that the Senate President has “absolute respect and regard for his distinguished colleagues and indeed all Nigerians.”
The statement reads: “For sometime, a false narrative has been woven round the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON, all in an attempt to give it a semblance of truth.
“Although, we had ignored the misinformation, it has become necessary to enlighten and educate the reading public so that these stories do not gain traction.
“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 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 priotised 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.
“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 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 concentrate on doing what he knows best – giving his all to the service of the nation and humanity.”