In an interview with Daily Independent on Monday, March 9, 2026, Archbishop Funso Awe, former Lagos State governorship candidate, has described the recent comment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio about his loyalty to the executive arm of government as something Nigerians already know.
Awe said the statement did not come as a surprise to many citizens, according to him, the present leadership of the National Assembly of Nigeria has long been seen by critics as too close to the executive branch.
The retired archbishop argued that Akpabio’s remark only confirmed an opinion that many Nigerians already hold, he said the National Assembly has often been described as a rubber stamp institution that rarely challenges the executive on key national issues.
Awe explained that because of this perception, Akpabio’s declaration of loyalty should not be treated as breaking news, instead, he said it simply reflects the political reality many observers believe exists within the legislature.
He noted that in a democratic system, the legislative arm of government is expected to function independently and serve as a check on the executive, however, he said critics have repeatedly questioned whether that role is being fully carried out in Nigeria.
According to him, Akpabio’s comment only reinforced the belief that the current National Assembly does not strongly oppose or scrutinise the actions of the executive branch.
Awe maintained that public discussions about the independence of the legislature have been ongoing for years, he said many Nigerians already assume that lawmakers often align themselves with the executive rather than challenge government policies when necessary.
”That is not news. What Akpabio said is not news. We all know that the present National Assembly is a rubber stamp Assembly. So, in saying what he said, he is only affirming what we all know,” he said.See_More…