‘He represents competence’ — group asks senators-elect to vote for Akpabio

The good governance support group for Godswill Akpabio says the former minister of Niger Delta affairs is the best candidate for the position of senate president.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) nominated Akpabio as senate president and Jibrin Barau, senator representing Kano north, as his deputy.

However, Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, and Orji Uzor Kalu, ex-senate chief whip, have insisted on contesting for the position despite their party’s stance.

The senators-elect would be voting for their preferred candidates on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, John Harry, national co-coordinator of the group, said Akpabio represents competence which is why they are supporting him.

“Even as we thank our great party for zoning the office to the south-south of Nigeria and do implore all APC elected senators to respect party supremacy in this endeavour, please permit me to explain our bias,” he said.

“In truth, and only the truth, our bias is borne of the fact that Godswill Obot Akpabio represents competence, capacity and carriage. This is not a forum to read the citation of this great Akwa Ibom son. His indelible landmark dotted on the political skies of Akwa Ibom state serves as eloquent testimony.

“Who doesn’t know his capacity as a former governor, former senate minority leader and former minister of the federal republic of Nigeria?”

Harry said the event was a time to speak directly to the 109 senators who are set to make another leg of history tomorrow.

“It is a time to appeal to the other distinguished gentlemen and women elected on the platform of other political parties to sheath narrow parochial or partisan considerations for the overall success of our national voyage,” he said.

Patty Etete, chairman of the board of trustees of the group, said the senators-elect must not lose the opportunity to make history, by electing a man of proven leadership credentials like Akpabio.

“My plea is that we beseech senators-elect from our various constituencies like we have been doing for a long time and impress on them, the need to recognize sterling leadership by voting in Akpabio as the senate president of the 10th senate. Nigeria should not lose this opportunity,” he said.