Akpabio Urges Governors: Avoid Choosing Kneeling Loyalists as Successors

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerian state governors serving their second term to exercise caution in choosing their successors.

While speaking during the inauguration of the first 30 kilometers of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in the Lekki axis of Lagos, Akpabio warned that selecting a successor based solely on submissive behavior may lead to regret and betrayal in the future.

He emphasized that true leadership requires foresight and readiness, not mere flattery or superficial loyalty.

Leadership Requires Vision, Not Flattery – Akpabio

Akpabio stated that many leaders often misjudge loyalty by giving power to individuals who display exaggerated respect, like kneeling or having their spouses roll on the floor. According to him, such actions do not equate to preparedness for leadership or good governance.

“We have a President who possesses both sight and vision. I must advise our second-term governors, especially those under the All Progressives Congress (APC), not to hand over power to someone who is unprepared or uninterested in leadership,” Akpabio said.

He continued, “Do not assume that someone who consistently kneels before you, or whose spouse behaves with extreme reverence, deserves to be entrusted with governance. These gestures don’t reflect readiness or capability. Choosing successors based on such shallow reasons is often the root of betrayal.”

Akpabio reiterated that proper governance and sustained development stem from electing capable, visionary leaders—not those chosen out of blind loyalty or personal favoritism.

Akpabio Commends Progressive Leadership

Commending the APC leadership, Akpabio noted that Nigeria’s progress is driven by a visionary President who exemplifies leadership with purpose. He advised governors to emulate this example by endorsing individuals with strategic focus and competence.

According to him, “The progressive governors are performing well because they are guided by a leader who not only sees the present but also envisions the future.”

Key Attendees at the Event

The commissioning event was attended by notable dignitaries, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Works David Umahi, and several second-term governors such as Governor Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Governor Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).