Senate President Godswill Akpabio has extended a public apology to state governors, retracting his earlier statements regarding the controversial disbursement of N30 billion to state governments by the federal government for various interventions aimed at alleviating food scarcity.
In a surprising turn of events, Akpabio expressed remorse for his remarks made during the plenary on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, where he suggested that state governors received substantial sums from the federal coffers, sparking widespread condemnation from the governors themselves.
Recall that Akpabio had presented unverified intelligence suggesting that each state governor had been allocated N30 billion to combat inflation and rising food costs within their respective states.
Contrary to his previous claims, Akpabio’s recent apology sheds light on the misconceptions surrounding his earlier statements, accentuating the need for collaboration between state and federal governments to address the nation’s economic challenges effectively.
The statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of the Senate, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, clarified Akpabio’s intentions, stating, “The President of the Senate is not oblivious to the fact that state governments are functional partners in all the efforts of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.”
Akpabio’s retraction comes amidst revelations that the alleged N30 billion disbursements were part of a larger strategy to provide relief to states grappling with the removal of fuel subsidies. Reports indicate that only a fraction of the promised funds had been released, raising questions about the transparency of government interventions.
While urging governors to utilize available resources judiciously, Akpabio emphasized the importance of tangible actions in addressing the pressing needs of Nigerians, particularly regarding food security.
