Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio harbours an unjustified bias against him and remains suspicious of his activities within the National Assembly.
Oshiomhole made the remarks during an appearance on the Sunday edition of MIC ON PODCAST, amid ongoing debates within the Senate following his recent criticism of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The former Edo State governor said he played a significant role in the formation of the ruling All Progressives Congress and in the campaign that led to the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“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 said.
According to Oshiomhole, Akpabio has developed a perception of him that influences their relationship in the Senate.
“He 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,” Oshiomhole stated.
The senator also suggested that dissatisfaction among lawmakers could influence future leadership arrangements in the upper chamber.
“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,’” he said.
Oshiomhole maintained that he remains focused on serving his constituents and dismissed suggestions that he harbours ambitions regarding Senate leadership.
“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 added.
The Edo North senator further alleged that Akpabio becomes uncomfortable whenever he engages in discussions with certain senators, citing a conversation involving Senator Abdulaziz Yari.
According to Oshiomhole, Yari had expressed interest in serving as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, which Oshiomhole currently chairs.
He claimed that Akpabio questioned Yari’s intentions, allegedly suggesting that the move was connected to efforts to challenge his leadership.
“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.
Oshiomhole also stressed that the office of Senate President is determined by the collective will of senators and not by personal preferences.
“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 said.
The comments come shortly after the Senate distanced itself from Oshiomhole’s recent remarks describing the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” emphasizing that his comments reflected his personal views rather than the official position of the Red Chamber.
Last week, the Senate adopted a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, clarifying that no Senate committee has the authority to issue, approve or execute a warrant of arrest without complying with relevant legislative provisions and obtaining the express approval of the Senate President.
The resolution followed reports that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had considered recommending a warrant of arrest against former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari over his alleged failure to honour invitations by the committee.
