Senate President Godswill Akpabio has revealed that his biggest fear during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State was the state House of Assembly.
Akpabio made this statement while speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at a public lecture and book launch celebrating the birthday of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Addressing the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, Akpabio emphasized the importance of fostering close relationships with legislative leadership for political stability.
“For those unfamiliar with politics, we were taught that the legislature has immense power – they can turn a man into a woman or a woman into a man. As governor, my greatest fear was my House of Assembly,” Akpabio stated.
He further shared strategies he employed to maintain harmony, such as ensuring constant communication with the Speaker of the House.
“I never travelled without my Speaker. If I didn’t see him for a day, I would send someone to his house to invite him for lunch, just to check if he was still happy with me,” he added.
Akpabio concluded by advising current leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to maintain strong ties with legislative heads for effective governance. “The only place that can truly hurt a governor is the House of Assembly, and no court can stop it,” he said.
