Akpabio’s claim of Governors receiving N30bn from FG was misconstrued – Spokesperson

Eseme Eyiboh, spokesperson for Senate President Godswill Akpabio, clarified that his principal’s statement regarding Governors receiving N30 billion from the Federal Government to alleviate hardship was misunderstood.

Governors Seyi Makinde and Umo Eno of Oyo and Akwa Ibom states respectively had refuted the claim, deeming it inaccurate.

Eyiboh explained that Akpabio’s intention was to encourage state governments to work with President Bola Tinubu to implement strategic interventions aimed at mitigating the current economic challenges in the country. This remains the underlying motivation behind the statement.

The statement read; 

“In considering the well-intended motive of urging state governments to collaborate with the Federal Government of President Bola Tinubu to facilitate strategic interventions to mitigate the prevailing economic situation in the country remains the underpinning motivation in the comment.

“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 and are also valuable stakeholders in the various legislative engagements of the legislature in creating the nexus between the legislature and the people.

“The President of the Senate has always demonstrated commitment to team building and shall not do less in the circumstance.

“He, therefore, urges the sub-national governments not to be distracted by any misunderstanding of the context and true meaning of the statement.

“The President of the Senate recognizes and appreciates the current efforts of the governors at ameliorating the adverse effects of the current inclement socio-economic environment and therefore invites more hands on the plough to complement the renewed hope agenda.”