Tuesday December 9, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng
There are days in the history of nations that rise above the ordinary—days that summon not only celebration but reflection; not merely applause, but gratitude. This is such a day. For on this day, Nigeria commemorates the birthday of a man whose life, to borrow the words of Winston Churchill, has become, “a long continuity of purpose”—steadfast, unshaken, and consecrated to the service of his people. President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON.
To mark his birthday merely as a procession of years is to reduce a far greater narrative—of leadership born in adversity, courage refined by duty, and a legacy still taking shape; it is to overlook the profound imprint of his service on the Senate, the nation, and the countless lives uplifted by his guiding hand. Instead, we honour this milestone as a testament to a journey shaped by trials, strengthened by vision, and illuminated by an unwavering resolve to make tomorrow better than today—a journey that transformed Akwa Ibom State, redefined the Niger Delta, and now advances the cause of Nigeria through the citadel of its lawmaking. It is a journey whose impact has attracted both local and global acclaim, earning him nearly forty honorary doctoral degrees and an array of distinguished awards that testify to a life lived at the high watermark of service.
For those of us who have had the honour to walk beside him, to witness his discipline, and to draw strength from the quiet force of his example, today rises far above a personal milestone; it calls us to remember that Providence does not abandon nations—it sends them men at the very hour they are most needed. His life stands as a living testament to the Scripture: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
Through storms that would have broken lesser spirits, he has remained unbowed—troubled on every side, yet never distressed; pressed by complexity, yet never in despair; opposed by many, yet never forsaken; cast down by circumstance, yet never destroyed. His resilience is not merely human grit—it is the unmistakable imprint of divine purpose upon a willing vessel.
Through the seasons we have travelled with you, we have learned—sometimes in the quiet of counsel, sometimes in the whirlwind of national duty—when to walk with dignity even when malicious tongues poison the air with venom; when to run with vision despite the stones cast by the envious; and when to leap with faith over the fences of fear, doubt, and manufactured discouragement. You have been to us not merely a leader in high office, but a patriarch of national steadiness—shaping our collective steps, strengthening our resolve, and lifting Nigerians toward their better and braver selves.
It was Churchill who declared that “The price of greatness is responsibility.” Senator Akpabio has borne that price with courage, with clarity, and with a rare generosity of spirit. In the Senate, he has steadied the ship of the nation with a captain’s calm; in public life, he has become one of Nigeria’s surest pillars; and in private mentorship, he has shown that true leadership is not measured by the height one attains, but by how many lives one raises. Across the country, millions testify to his benevolence—quiet interventions, unseen kindnesses, and timely acts of compassion whose imprints of generosity read like a long, unbroken ledger of human upliftment.
This is why Heaven remembers you, as the angel remembered Cornelius—for the offerings of a generous heart rise to God as a memorial no earthly hand can erase. And so today, we pause—not for the hollow music of ritual fanfare, but for the solemn recognition that yours is a life poured out like a libation upon the altar of humanity. In an age often clouded by selfish ambition, your benevolence stands like a steady flame, refusing to flicker before the winds. It is a reminder that, as Scripture affirms, “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love.”
And so, as we behold this day of remembrance, we marvel at the constancy of this man of purpose:
Sixty-three years—and still his energy defies the arithmetic of age.
Sixty-three years—and still his vision stretches beyond the horizon of your generation.
Sixty-three years—and still his heart widens to bear the burdens of a nation with a strength that can only come from above.
This is exactly why this is not merely a birthday. It is a national thanksgiving. A moment for all who have been touched, inspired, molded, or uplifted by him to say: “We are grateful.”
May the Lord who has carried you this far grant you many more years of wisdom, strength, and towering service. May your impact continue to echo in the chambers of history, and may Nigeria long drink from the well of your courage.
Happy 63rd Birthday to a man of destiny and purpose.
Nigeria salutes you.
Africa celebrates you.
The world beholds the radiance of a destiny unfolding upon the stage of history.
And we march forward with you.
