Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio views him with suspicion and holds a strong personal bias against him.
Oshiomhole made the claim during an appearance on the Sunday edition of MIC ON PODCAST, against the backdrop of rising tensions in the Senate triggered by his recent remarks concerning the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The former Edo State governor stated that despite his role within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his contributions to President Bola Tinubu’s electoral success, Akpabio maintains an unjustified distrust of him.
He said, “Don’t forget that I was a founding governor of the APC and Deputy DG of Bola Tinubu Campaign Council that gave us victory. I’m not saying I am responsible for the victory, but I worked for it, and I’m happy we got it
He (Akpabio) is so paranoid about anything that has to do with me. Everybody in the senate knows that if Senator Akpabio have his way, he will lock me out of the senate because he has misled himself into thinking that I am probably the devil he knows. There are many angels he doesn’t know,” he said.
Oshiomhole also suggested that the current Senate leadership may not continue in its present form beyond the 10th Senate, citing what he described as growing dissatisfaction among lawmakers.
“The 11th Senate will not be like the 10th, this I can say. It can’t be. Senators are grumbling about his style of leadership. But we try to manage, and I’ve tried to assure him that ‘Look, Mr Senate President, I am a very fulfilled person.’
Whatever job I am given to do, I ask God to give me courage and even greater wisdom to do that job to the satisfaction of my constituents. The Senate President’s bias against me is very well known. I will not join in speculating as to the reason for his bias,” he stated.
He further alleged that Akpabio becomes uneasy whenever he interacts with certain lawmakers, citing an example involving Senator Abdulaziz Yari.
He said, “Many people in the Senate know. In fact, if I go around the floor of the Senate and I go greet certain persons and we have conversations, the man becomes uncomfortable. I will give you an instance.
“Senator Yari approached the Senate President and said that he wanted to be the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior.
I am the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior. The Senate President said to him, so you want to join Senator Oshiomhole to plan how to remove me as Senate President? But I just laugh it off.”
According to him, the Senate President should be regarded as “first among equals,” stressing that leadership in the chamber is determined by the collective decision of senators.
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“If you understand the way the Senate works, the Senate President is first among equals. Only the persons favoured by the Senators are elected.
“Remember, if Senator Yari had got the majority, he could have become the Senate President. It is not about what anybody wishes. It is about who the senators want,” he warned.
The comments come days after the Senate publicly distanced itself from Oshiomhole’s description of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” stating that the remark represented his personal opinion and not that of the Red Chamber.
In plenary last week, the Senate adopted a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, clarifying that no committee of the Senate has the authority to issue, authorise, or execute a warrant of arrest without strict adherence to the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and without the express approval of the Senate President.
The resolution followed reports that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had recommended issuing a warrant of arrest against former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, over alleged failure to honour committee invitations.
Attempts to reach the Senate President’s media aide, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, for comment were unsuccessful as of press time. He did not respond to calls or messages seeking clarification.