Senator Godswill Akpabio has described his emergence as the President of the 10th Senate, as a call to serve Nigerians and ensure all round transformation of the country.
This was as he also called on the Church to take its rightful position in the affairs of the country.
Akpabio stated these in his goodwill message at the Thanksgiving Service on the 23rd Synod/Congress of Abuja Province of the African Church, on Sunday.
The goodwill message of the President of the Senate was delivered on his behalf by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong.
Akpabio said: “To me, this Senate President position is a call to serve our people and to transform Nigeria.
“I feel highly honoured and humbled that I am today in a position to support our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in building the Nigeria of our collective dreams.
“I wish to state that God has special love for me. How does one explain the humungous undeserving blessings He continually showers on me?
“How would I have imagined that, from my very humble beginning in Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim, Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, I, Godswill Akpabio, will rise to the coveted Office of the President of the Nigerian Senate?
“Indeed, our God is marvellous and greater than all imaginations.
“I could not have missed this auspicious event given the significance of the theme of the occasion: “The Church and Politics”, he said.
Akpabio said the present challenge which the country faces calls for urgent divine intervention through earnest and fervent prayers.
“By this, I do not in any way mean to undermine the role that we as leaders in whatever sphere, whether spiritual or temporal, must play to defeat the numerous forces that have held Nigeria down all these years.
“God willing and with renewed zeal and commitment, we shall begin to see progress in religious, political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of our lives,” he assured.
Senator Akpabio stated: “My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we embark on this journey of Nigeria’s rebirth, it is imperative that the Church upholds its responsibility of serving as the moral compass and a reorientation platform for the citizens.
“Nigeria will only make meaningful progress when every stakeholder and key player participate in nation building.
“It is common knowledge that Christians are called to be the light and salt of the world.
“According to one writer, ‘we cannot be the light and the salt to this generation without getting involved in politics and understanding the ethos and structures of governance’.
“You may recall how the African Church, at inception, fought for the liberation of the Blacks from spiritual and political dominance of Western World.
“Indeed, time has come for the Church to take its position as a primary driver of progressive change. It is now or never, as Nigerians are eager for a new sustainable order.
“At the level of legislation, we will push for greater collaboration with the greater community which includes the church by extension.
“On behalf of the Senate and the National Assembly, I thank you once again for the opportunity to join you at the Thanksgiving Service on the 2023 Synod/Congress of Abuja Province,” he added.
In his sermon, the Archbishop Abuja Metropolitan Province, Most Reverend Dr Peter Ogunmuyiwa, charged Christians to take part in politics to make a difference.
He said he was one of those Bishops who initially stood against the Muslim/Muslim ticket.
The cleric added that he had a change of heart when he had a personal encounter with the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) now President Bola Tinubu.
Reverend Ogunmuyiwa said: “the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the President of the Senate has doused religious tension in the country.
“When I met President Tinubu before his election, he promised me that he would ensure that a Christian emerged the Senate President, having had Muslims as the President and Vice President, respectively.
“Tinubu is a promise-keeper. I expect the Senate, under Akpabio’s leadership, to stand for the people by allocating resources to where it is most needed because that is what will speak for you.
“Nothing is evil in politics. Practitioners make it look as if it is evil. We pray that Nigeria shall be better and great again.
“I congratulate President Bola Tinubu, the vice president and the Senate President. We are beginning to see the signs that it is no more business as usual,” he said.
