I Wish I Was A Governor Under You — Senate President, Akpabio To Tinubu

Senate President Godswill Akpabio made headlines in Abuja, Nigeria, by saying he wished he were a governor under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration because federal allocations to state governments are now about four times larger than when he governed Akwa Ibom State. Akpabio shared the remark during plenary at the National Assembly, emphasising that subnational governments today have far more resources than in his tenure.

According to him, the increased allocations offer governors greater capacity to pursue development projects and improve services at the grassroots, though he acknowledged that it also demands prudence and wisdom in spending. He reflected that the abundant funds present opportunities that were unavailable in his time as a state chief executive.

Akpabio’s comments arrive amid ongoing debates over fiscal federalism in Nigeria, where state leaders have increasingly called for enhanced revenue shares and fiscal autonomy. Analysts say his praise of federal transfer growth, if backed by accountability and impactful governance, could signal strengthening fiscal support from the centre to states under Tinubu’s economic reforms.