“Akpabio sees me as devil” — Oshiomhole fires at Senate President 

The Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio views him with suspicion and remains uncomfortable with his growing influence within the National Assembly.

Mr Oshiomhole made the remarks during the Sunday edition of MIC ON PODCAST amid ongoing political conversations surrounding recent tensions in the Senate and reactions to his comments about the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

The former Edo State Governor argued that despite his longstanding role in the formation and electoral success of the All Progressives Congress, he believes Mr Akpabio remains distrustful of him.

“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 had his way, he would 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.

The comments come days after the Senate publicly distanced itself from Mr Oshiomhole’s remarks describing the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” insisting that the statements reflected his personal opinion and not the official position of the Red Chamber.

The controversy followed discussions around invitations issued to former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.

Mr Oshiomhole maintained that the Senate President remains first among equals and that leadership ultimately depends on the collective decision of lawmakers.

“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 added.

Leadership style concerns

Mr Oshiomhole also suggested that the current leadership structure of the Senate may not remain unchanged in future assemblies, citing 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.

Alleges discomfort over Senate interactions

Continuing, Mr Oshiomhole claimed that Mr Akpabio often becomes uneasy whenever he engages with some senators and referenced an interaction involving Senator Abdulaziz Yari.

“Many people in the Senate know. In fact, if I go around the floor of the Senate and greet certain persons and we have conversations, the man becomes uncomfortable.

“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,” he said.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from Mr Akpabio’s media aide, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, were unsuccessful as calls and messages seeking clarification were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.