As tributes poured in for the late Senator Godiya Akwashiki in Nasarawa State on Thursday night, one presence was repeatedly noticed by its absence—the Nigerian Senate where the lawmaker once served.
While the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Nasarawa State Government, traditional rulers, and political leaders across party lines gathered in Lafia to celebrate a life defined by service, no delegation from the Senate leadership was in attendance. Neither the Senate President nor any principal officer of the National Assembly was represented at the Night of Tributes.
It was the second such omission to draw public attention. Earlier this month, when Senator Akwashiki’s remains arrived from India at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on January 5, the absence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other ranking lawmakers was similarly reported.
Yet, inside the packed memorial hall in Lafia, the tone was anything but muted.
The evening of tributes reflected the breadth of Senator Akwashiki’s political and social reach. Leaders of the SDP at national and state levels sat alongside traditional rulers, elected officials, and politicians from rival parties—an unusual convergence that underscored the respect he commanded beyond partisan boundaries.
Speakers described Akwashiki as a legislator whose tenure in the National Assembly helped redefine representation in Nasarawa North Senatorial District, particularly through his emphasis on grassroots engagement and tangible development.
Speaking on behalf of the SDP National Working Committee, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe said the senator’s death represented more than a personal loss to his family or party.
“Senator Akwashiki believed public office was a trust. His politics was about service, not self; about results, not rhetoric,” Gombe said, urging leaders to draw lessons from what he described as a life anchored on integrity and sacrifice.
Tributes consistently returned to one defining theme: Akwashiki’s grassroots orientation. His rise to the Senate was framed as the product of years of community mobilisation, rather than elite political engineering.
During his time in the National Assembly, he served on key committees and earned a reputation for disciplined participation in plenary, constructive legislative debate, and constant interaction with constituents. According to party leaders and community representatives, his willingness to work across party lines helped advance issues affecting Nasarawa North and the state as a whole.
By the time of the 2023 general elections, speakers recalled, his popularity had cut across partisan divides, with politicians from other parties publicly acknowledging his performance—an uncommon endorsement in Nigeria’s polarised political environment.
The Nasarawa State Government added its voice to the tributes, with Governor Abdullahi A. Sule describing the late senator as a “rare gem” whose impact would endure long after his passing.
Delivering the Governor’s message, Deputy Governor Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe said Akwashiki’s death was a painful loss to his immediate constituency of Akwanga, Wamba, and Nasarawa Eggon, and to the state at large.
Akabe highlighted the senator’s humility and ability to relate across social divides, noting that public office never detached him from his roots. He recalled that Akwashiki won elections on different political platforms, adding that “wherever he pitched his tent, his people followed him.”
According to the Deputy Governor, Akwashiki’s intellect and leadership qualities earned him strategic roles in the National Assembly, where he facilitated development projects and provided effective representation.
Development as a Unifying Thread
Beyond speeches, much of the evening focused on Akwashiki’s practical legacy—constituency projects in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and community development spread across Nasarawa North.
Community leaders noted that these interventions cut across ethnic, religious, and gender lines, reinforcing his image as a bridge-builder. His leadership style, they said, was defined by accessibility and accountability, with constant engagement of traditional institutions, youth groups, and women’s associations.
Prof. Gombe also revealed that even as ill health limited his public appearances, the senator remained preoccupied with effective representation. Shortly before his death, Akwashiki reportedly contemplated stepping aside to allow his constituency elect a replacement capable of sustaining development momentum—an act speakers described as rare political selflessness.
Legacy Amid Silence
As prayers were offered for the repose of his soul and for strength for his family, the gathering evolved into a broader reflection on leadership standards in Nigeria—integrity, service, and responsibility to the people.
Yet, outside the hall, the silence from the Senate leadership lingered quietly in the background, forming an unspoken contrast to the warmth and unanimity of the tributes at home.
As Nasarawa mourns and honours one of its most prominent sons, Senator Godiya Akwashiki is being remembered not simply for the office he once occupied, but for the values he represented—values many at the tribute said Nigeria needs more of today.
May his soul rest in peace.
As Nasarawa Honours Akwashiki, Absence of Senate Leadership Raises Quiet Questions
