I don’t smoke cigarettes, I’ve never tasted alcohol – Senate president, Godswill Akpabio

President of the Nigerian senate, Godswill Akpabio says he has never taken alcohol or smoked cigarettes in his life because of the side effects.

He made the revelation while admonishing children of secondary schools that participated in the grand finale of the National Quiz Competition organised by the National Institute For Legislative And Democratic Studies.

The Director General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman said similar competitions were held at the state level, involving secondary schools drawn from the three senatorial zones in the 36 states. He said the participating schools emerged from a competitive process.

Speaking on the theme “The Legislature And Democracy” Akpabio urged youths to steer off vices that could affect their dreams and aspirations in life, adding that Nigeria deserves young people who are God-fearing.

The senate president who commended the participating schools for getting to the finals of the exercise, specifically warned them against taking alcohol or engaging in smoking any form of substance that could be injurious to their health.

Akpabio said; “You should strive to become visionary leaders in the future by abstaining from things that would truncate your dreams and goals. In my case, I have never smoked cigarettes or taken alcohol before. This is because, growing up, I listened to parental guidance.

“As a kid, I usually see a man who would stagger on the road and fall into the gutters. I asked my mum who told me it was because he was drunk. Some people would drink alcohol and drive home while others would drink and drive to paradise”.