SENATE President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, threw a lavish birthday party over the weekend to celebrate his 61st birthday.
This is coming at a time when 133 million Nigerians are facing multidimensional poverty and many citizens are struggling to make ends meet.
The event, which took place at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, attracted other politicians who flew in expensive aircraft, mocking citizens who are kidnapped on daily basis while travelling on Nigerian roads.
The stadium was filled to the brim, and the event attracted more than 100 serving and former senators, including the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic, Oluremi Tinubu.
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Tribune quoted Ms Tinubu as saying, “Senator Akpabio’s journey from his early days as a lawyer to his days as the governor of Akwa Ibom State and today as the Senate President of the Federal Republic is worth commending.
“It is noteworthy that, during his days as governor, Akwa Ibom witnessed huge infrastructural renaissance, improved healthcare services and enhanced educational policy for the children of the state, poverty alleviation programmes that transformed the lives of many.”
A State House statement said Nigeria’s President, Mr Bola Tinubu, “appreciates the loyalty, dedication, and commitment the Senate President has demonstrated over time, with measurable and lasting legacies to show for his time in various offices, most significantly exemplified by the uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom into one of the most vibrant and frontline states in the country.”
Jamboree amid poverty
While Akpabio threw a lavish party which cost a lot of money to organise, the majority of watching Nigerians wallow in poverty.
Source: NBS, Economy Post
In 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released a poverty report, saying that 63 percent of persons living within Nigeria (133 million people) were multidimensionally poor.
The report noted that poor people in Nigeria experienced just over one-quarter of all possible deprivations, stressing that 65 percent of the poor (86 million people) lived in the North, while 35 percent (nearly 47 million) lived in the South.
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“Over half of the population of Nigeria are multidimensionally poor and cook with dung, wood or charcoal, rather than cleaner energy. High deprivations are also apparent nationally in sanitation, time to healthcare, food insecurity, and housing,” the report noted.
The report further disclosed that multidimensional poverty was higher in rural areas, two-thirds (67.5 percent) of children (0–17) were multidimensionally poor, and half (51 percent) of all poor people were children.
“Child poverty is prevalent in rural areas, with almost 90% of rural children experiencing poverty. Four million Nigerians – 2.1% of the population – live with a child aged 15–17 who is the first generation in that household to have completed primary school,” the report added.
Governance experts have expressed worry over the lavish lifestyles of Nigerian politicians, stressing that it contradicts the prevailing tough economic situation ravaging the country.
“If Akpabio were a private citizen, I would not have any problem. He has a right to organise a party in so far as he is doing that with his money. However, he is a public servant and I expect him to understand that he is governing a group of hungry mouths,” said an Abuja-based lawyer and governance expert, Ms Ndii Adioraekwu.
“Next is for him to disclose how much he spent on that party and whether the money is his or public funds. Was anybody compelled to contribute the money? He has to come out clean,” she further said.
Nigerians kidnapped on roads
While many Nigerians cannot afford to travel on private aircraft and are kidnapped daily on the roads, politicians flew in tens of aircraft to grace the Senate president’s birthday party.
Akapabio waving at supporters Source: MetroWatchExtra
According to SBM Intelligence, “Between July 2022 and June 2023, 3,620 people were abducted in 582 kidnap-related incidents in Nigeria and at least N5 billion ($6,410,256 as of 30 June 2023) were reported as ransom demands, while verified ransom payouts amounted to N302 million ($387,179), or six percent of what was demanded,” Economy Post earlier reported.
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Within the period, Zamfara reported highest kidnap incidents with 765 cases. It was followed by Kaduna and Niger, which had 690 and 468 cases respectively. Katsina and Sokoto states were next with 241 and 176 cases respectively, trailed by Kogi and Edo with 163 and 130 cases respectively. Other states not represented in the graph above had fewer than 10 cases of kidnapping within the period.
A June 2023 Nextier report said there had been 40 kidnap cases involving 236 victims in the FCT between January and June 2023.
Source: SBM Intelligence, Economy Post
“It is unfortunate that politicians do not care at all, from the president to the senate president, down to every other politician in Nigeria,” said a United Kingdom-based university lecturer, Mr Kolawole Adewumi.
“One day, the poor and those being kidnapped may decide to rise against politicians and all those who have contributed to wrecking Nigeria. Only then will politicians understand that nothing lasts forever,” he added.
