By Henry Ubus.

Asaba, Nigeria – Comrade Elvis Akpobi, the Senior Special Assistant on Youths Mentoring and Development to the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has taken to his social media platforms to decry what he described as systemic neglect of Nigerians by their elected lawmakers and regulatory institutions.

Reacting to the recent viral incident involving Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s unsavory experience with Air Peace, Akpobi noted that millions of Nigerians have had similar or even worse experiences, but their voices often go unheard.

“A lot of Nigerians have had firsthand experience of what Senator Adams Oshiomhole went through with Air Peace. Yet, when ordinary citizens cry out about such issues, lawmakers treat it with a laissez-faire attitude,” Akpobi wrote.

Akpobi, who is also the Coordinator of the Not Too Young To Lead initiative, stressed that true governance lies in crafting policies that are inclusive, fair, and capable of improving the quality of life of every Nigerian.

“Like I have always reiterated, if we are not building a society that makes life better for everyone and making policies not laced with bias, then we are gradually destroying our country,” he warned.

He further criticized the silence of relevant authorities on the continuous financial pressure being mounted on Nigerians by telecommunications giants and media companies. He singled out companies such as MTN Nigeria, DSTV, and GOTV for unregulated tariff hikes, lamenting the inaction of both the Nigerian Senate and the Minister of Communications, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

“Telecom companies like MTN Nigeria and others are increasing their tariffs daily. MultiChoice (DSTV, GOTV) is draining Nigerians financially, yet the Senate and the young Minister for Telecommunications, who rode to office on the back of youth advocacy, appear muted.”

Akpobi did not mince words in calling out what he sees as a leadership crisis.

“Everything rises and falls on leadership. Incompetence dressed up as strategy or political reward is still incompetence and it’s totally unacceptable.”

As Nigeria marked its Democracy Day, Akpobi issued a clarion call to the Senate President and lawmakers to address these recurring issues without waiting for a high-profile Nigerian to be affected before taking action.

“We don’t have to wait until a high-profile Nigerian experiences our man-made plagues before it becomes a national discourse. Nigerians deserve better, and we can achieve better if we all play our roles — as policymakers and as citizens,” he concluded.

Akpobi’s remarks come at a time when public trust in governance is under intense scrutiny, and his statement has resonated with many Nigerians seeking responsive and responsible leadership.

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