During the presentation of the N27.5 trillion budget by Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio highlighted a remarkable achievement, stating that Nigeria accomplished in just 24 years what took the United States of America 185 years.
Addressing the joint National Assembly, Akpabio noted that Nigeria, in its 24th year as a democratic nation, had produced former senators as both President and Vice President, a feat that the United States achieved only after over a century and a half.
In 1992, Tinubu was elected to the Senate to represent Lagos West constituency during the short-lived Third Republic, and Kashim Shettima became a senator in 1999.
Drawing a historical parallel, Akpabio pointed out that in the United States, Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson ascended to the White House when the U.S. democracy marked its 185th anniversary.
In his commendation of Tinubu, the Senate President expressed, “It is said that no matter how an eagle flies, its Stallions keep pointing to the earth. Mr. President, we know no matter how high you rise in life, your heart will always point to this Assembly.”
Akpabio emphasized that within 24 years of Nigeria’s democracy, the country achieved what took the United States 185 years to accomplish.
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Beyond Tinubu and Shettima, who had served as senators, Akpabio highlighted that other former federal lawmakers from the National Assembly were also occupying significant public offices.
“Not only do we have two former distinguished senators serving as president and vice president of our dear country, but we also have other alumni of this National Assembly in positions of public trust,” Akpabio added.