By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka in Abuja
At the National Assembly on Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio received a delegation of women golfers with a message that went far beyond sports. As members of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria filed into his office, Akpabio used the moment to address the nation’s most pressing anxiety: insecurity. His assurance was direct under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s security challenges “will soon be a thing of the past.”
The courtesy visit by the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, led by National President Dr. Lima Ahmed, was meant to formally invite Akpabio to their forthcoming international tournament in Abuja. It ended with the Senate President being decorated as Grand Patron of the group.
But it was Akpabio’s comments on national security that dominated the engagement. Speaking on behalf of the Senate, he acknowledged the reality of the current challenges and positioned the Tinubu administration as fully focused on reversing them.
“President Bola Ahmed is giving the situation its utmost attention,” Akpabio said. He cited the recent release of school children abducted in Oyo State as evidence that government action is producing results, even if those results are not always visible on social media.
“Don’t rely on what you hear or see in the social media, they are not true reflection of what is happening in our country,” he cautioned. The remark highlights a growing government concern: that online narratives are shaping public perception faster than official updates.
Akpabio’s assurance, “very soon, the issue of security would be a thing of past” sets a clear political benchmark. With kidnappings, banditry, and communal clashes still dominating headlines, the statement will be measured against events on the ground in the coming months.
The Senate President’s choice of forum is also telling. Addressing women leaders outside the chamber allows government messaging to reach civic groups directly, bypassing the often-polarized debate in plenary.
The conversation then shifted to women in politics. Akpabio traced the reluctance of some women to support female candidates to “the toxic behaviour of those who had in the past been given the opportunities for such positions, only to misuse it.”
It was a frank admission of internal party and gender dynamics. By naming the problem, Akpabio opened space for a broader conversation about trust, mentorship, and political succession among women leaders.
On sports diplomacy, Akpabio pledged the full support of the Senate for the association’s upcoming international Ladies tournament, scheduled for the IBB International Golf Course in Abuja. The event is expected to draw participants from across the continent.
Dr. Lima Ahmed, in her remarks, thanked the Senate President for the audience and formally extended the invitation. The decoration of Akpabio as Grand Patron signals the group’s intent to leverage legislative support for visibility and funding.
The meeting illustrates how governance and civil society now intersect — where a golf association’s visit becomes a platform for national policy assurances. It also shows the administration’s strategy of using every public engagement to project calm and control.
Ultimately, Akpabio’s words will be judged not in the chambers of the National Assembly, but in communities still living with fear. “Security will soon be a thing of the past” is a promise. The next test is delivery.
