I deserve to be minister, says ex-female APC presidential aspirant

Ibinabo Dokubo, a former presidential aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC), says she is qualified to be a minister in the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu, president-elect.

Dokubo, who declared her intention to run for president in April 2022, did not contest the ruling party’s presidential primary in June that produced Tinubu as the flagbearer.

Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Thursday, the former aspirant said she deserves to be minister because she is qualified, and wants to see Tinubu succeed in office.

“I declared before Asiwaju, when he indicated his interest that he wanted to become the president – he stood a better chance of getting the ticket. I’m still young, I still have more years ahead of me, so I withdrew my interest,” Dokubo said.

“I don’t only deserve to be a minister, I am qualified to be a minister. As a youth and as a leader in the Rivers state APC. I have the capacity. I have something that I can bring to the table, I have so many plans while I was running for president. I deserve to be a minister.

“I can see Nyesom Wike running around Asiwaju and APC. This is a party he once called a cancer party. Does Nyesom Wike want to be a cancer minister?

“I’m not saying I must become [minister], but I must be part of the process. Either I will or I will nominate. Asiwaju said his government is going to be a youth government. In all categories, I’m qualified to be a minister.”

‘I’M NOT HAPPY WITH APC’S NOMINATIONS FOR N’ASSEMBLY’

Dokubo said lawmakers-elect should be allowed to elect who they want as their presiding officers.

“When I got the news, I was not happy. I know the party is supreme but equity fairness and justice are more supreme than the party. It is better for them [lawmakers-elect] to go and vote,” she said.

“It [zoning] was not nice. They endorsed Godswill Akpabio for senate president. He did well as the governor of Akwa Ibom. Akpabio did well as a minority leader but as a minister of Niger Delta, Akpabio did not do well. NDDC almost collapsed in the hands of Akpabio.

“For over two years, it was a one-man show, one man sat on the affairs of NDDC.”