I Might Be a Useless Senate President, but I Am Not Stupid: Akpabio Fires Back at Nwaebonyi [WATCH VIDEO]

In a heated Senate session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio clashed with Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi over a motion to relocate or redevelop settlements around Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Nwaebonyi argued that the shanties visible during descent create an “eyesore” and tarnish Nigeria’s image, urging FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to budget for their removal or upgrade. Akpabio, however, challenged the senator’s logic, sarcastically questioning if villages should be “evacuated” just to impress air travelers. “Which part gives you dramas in your stomach?” Akpabio quipped, noting the existing eight-lane airport road and streetlights, suggesting the proposal was superficial.

The exchange, captured in a viral video, sparked widespread debate. A commentator on BVI Channel lambasted Nwaebonyi, calling him an “accidental senator” with a “poverty mentality” unfit for leadership. They accused him of prioritizing aesthetics over human welfare, mocking his desire for Abuja to resemble New York from the air. The commentator also criticized Akpabio as the “most useless Senate President” but praised his pushback, noting colleagues’ rejection of Nwaebonyi’s motion with a resounding “nay.”

This incident highlights deeper tensions in Nigeria’s governance. The commentator urged Nigerians to stop enabling unfit leaders through vote-buying, warning that recycling “never-do-wells” stalls progress. While Nwaebonyi’s motion aimed to enhance Abuja’s image, it ignored the human cost of displacing residents without addressing poverty. Akpabio’s retort, though sharp, underscored the need for practical solutions over cosmetic fixes.

As Nigeria grapples with systemic challenges, this debate exposes the disconnect between leaders’ priorities and citizens’ needs, fueling calls for accountability and electoral reform to elevate competent voices in the Senate