Prince Adewole Adebayo (Yeriman Arewa) pays tributes to late Senator Godiya Akwashiki

I received with profound sorrow the news of the passing of Distinguished Senator Godiya Akwashiki, a patriot whose life was devoted to service, representation, and the steady strengthening of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

His death is a painful loss not only to the people of Nasarawa North, whom he served with distinction, but also to the wider Nigerian political community and, in particular, to our shared family in the Social Democratic Party. In moments like this, words struggle to carry the full weight of loss, yet we must speak because to speak is to remember, and to remember is to honour a life that mattered.

Senator Akwashiki belonged to a generation of public servants who understood politics as responsibility rather than privilege. His journey from humble beginnings to the highest levels of legislative authority was marked by discipline, learning, and an unwavering belief in the dignity of ordinary citizens. Educated within Nigeria’s public institutions and shaped by both professional and political experience, he carried into public life a grounded understanding of work, labour, and institutional process. Before politics, he served in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and that early exposure to the workings of the state would later inform his legislative seriousness and respect for governance as a system.

His rise within Nasarawa State politics from the House of Assembly to the Senate was not accidental. It was the result of trust patiently built, representation consistently delivered, and a reputation for listening before acting. As Majority Leader and later Deputy Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, he demonstrated a rare balance of firmness and collegiality. When he moved to the National Assembly, that same ethic followed him. In the Senate, he did not pursue visibility for its own sake; rather, he pursued relevance. Whether chairing committees on Labour and Employment, Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, or National Defence, Senator Akwashiki approached leadership as stewardship, mindful that every policy choice has human consequences.

What distinguished him most, however, Was not the number of committees he chaired or the countries he visited, but the values he carried into every role. Senator Akwashiki believed deeply in the dignity of labour, the necessity of dialogue, and the moral responsibility of leaders to protect the vulnerable. Therefore, it was no coincidence that labour unions, international parliamentary bodies, and civic institutions recognised his work. These honours were not decorative; they were acknowledgements of a man who understood that governance must improve lives, not merely manage power.

However, our shared affiliation with the Social Democratic Party gives his life and passing an even deeper resonance for me. The SDP is not merely a political platform; it is a tradition rooted in social justice, human welfare, disciplined democracy, and the belief that the state exists to serve the many, not the few. Senator Akwashiki’s decision to align himself with this tradition was a statement of conviction. It reflected a conscious choice to place people over expediency and values over convenience. In this, he reminded us that political alignment is most meaningful when it flows from principle.

Personally, I regarded Senator Akwashiki as a reminder of what Nigerian politics can still be at its best. He was accessible without being unserious, firm without being arrogant, and ambitious without losing sight of service. He carried his people with him, not behind him.
Even in moments of disagreement, he remained respectful, believing that democracy thrives not on uniformity but on disciplined disagreement guided by the national interest.
His passing compels us to reflect on the fragility of life and the urgency of purpose. It challenges those of us who remain in public life to ask whether we are building legacies or merely occupying offices. Senator Akwashiki leaves behind more than records of service; he leaves behind a standard. A standard of representation that does not forget its roots, of leadership that does not detach itself from humanity, and of politics that does not abandon conscience.

To his beloved wife and children, I extend my deepest condolences. No public honour can fully compensate for the loss of a husband and father, yet I hope they find comfort in the knowledge that his life touched countless others and that his name will endure in the history of Nasarawa State and Nigeria. To the people of Nasarawa North, you did not merely elect a senator; you raised a statesman. To our party family, we have lost a pillar, but we have gained a legacy that must now be protected through conduct worthy of his example.

May Senator Godiya Akwashiki rest in peace. May his service continue to speak where words fail. And may Nigeria one day fully become the kind of country his life and values envisioned.

Prince Adewole ADEBAYO
Former Presidential Candidate, Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Federal Republic of Nigeria