Akpabio urges governors to prioritize competence in choosing successors

By Kunle Sanni

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Saturday urged outgoing governors to prioritize competence and readiness in selecting successors, warning against handing power to loyalists who lack the capacity to govern.

He made the remarks during the official commissioning of Phase 1, Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a flagship 750-kilometre project designed as a six-lane carriageway running through several coastal states, including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.

“Do not hand over power to anyone who is not seeking it for the right reasons. Governance is too important to be left to cronies,” Akpabio said.

He cautioned governors against being swayed by superficial displays of humility, stating, “Don’t go thinking, ‘this boy always kneels when he talks to me’—that is not leadership.”

Drawing from his experience as a former governor, Akpabio emphasized that a leader’s legacy is defined by the quality of their successor. “Choose someone who shares your vision and values, not just someone who flatters you,” he said.

Akpabio also praised President Tinubu’s leadership, describing the coastal highway as a “generational gift” to Nigeria.