Senate: Why Senators-elect Should Support Akpabio/Jibrin Candidacy – Arewa Women, Focus Groups 

As candidates continue to jostle for the Senate Presidency seat of the 10th National Assembly, two supports group, the Arewa Women for Tinubu/Shettima and the 100% Focus Group has urged senators-elect to back the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Godswill Akpabio.

The leader of Arewa Women for Tinubu/Shetima, Hajia Sa’adatu Garba Dogonbauchi and the chairman of 100% Focus Group, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed stated this on Monday at a press conference in Abuja.

Stressing that the nation was in a healing and reconciliation process, the groups added that Akpabio was chosen to build bridges across the country.

On her part, Dogon Bauchi said Akpabio has passion for the Renewed Hope project of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, adding that he does not discriminate against any group, region or religion.

Urging other candidates in contention for the Senate Presidency to step down for Akpabio, she said the former governor has the capacity for the task ahead.

“As expected, a new era of renewed hope has finally presented itself to the Nigeria populace via a credible general election that has ushered in the preferred choice of the eligible Nigerians in February 2023 through the polls.

“This was followed by the swearing in of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president with Senator Kassim Shettima as his vice.

“Now that the stage is set for the position of the number three seat to be taken, a couple of names have sprang up to that effect, but one of such that keeps ringing the bell of assurance, positivity and optimism in the ears of the Nigerians is no other person but Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio with Jibrin to deputies him,” she said.

Chairman of 100% Focus Group, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed said Akpabio is widely preferred by APC for the Senate President position because of his “capacity, track record, integrity, experience, credibility not forgetting antecedents that precedes the two times Governor of the State of Akwa Ibom.”

He said Nigerians will be more comfortable with the Akpabio and Jibrin combination as it will enhance the much-required unity, not forgetting ethnic and religious tolerance across the whole nation.

He said, “Nigeria is currently in a healing and reconciliation phase, and it is imperative to avoid the influence of ethnic or religious bigots in governance, instead, the country needs individuals like Akpabio and Jibrin, who can serve as bridge builders.

“For the reasons of national unity and good governance, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined forces with us to request that members of the senate should consider Godswill Akpabio as the next senate president of Nigeria considering the fact Godswill Akpabio is from the southsouth, he would be representing the south east/south south as member of the first 5 ruling Individuals of Nigeria that is, the South west is having the president, the North East is having the Vice President, the South south should have the senate president, the middle belt to have SGF and the Northwest would take the speakership.”

“Observing closely Nigerians would see a balance and this is part of our drive to promote national unity, this shows that Our president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government believes in ruling Nigeria better, we need to select leaders from all parts of Nigeria to strike a balance of power to promote good governance and to be represented by all our leaders when it comes to decision making in the country.

“Nigeria is a great country that is highly divided at the same time highly united and it is our mission and vision to see Nigeria totally united as one, not a country divided by sentiments or religious bigotry, we are a country that should be connected by a value we all have on the table: to contribute to our economy, to contribute to our social existence, to contribute to our peace and to understand that our economy should be the most outstanding economy in the world.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio has 8 years of experience as the governor of akwa ibom state and has served as a senator and minister of the Niger Delta in Nigeria, when you consider him with the fact that he has eight years experience as a Governor of oil rich state of Akwa Ibom and also a seasoned senator of Nigeria representing Akwa Ibom, please Nigerian senators we are begging you to consider him with his experience and also as the just past minister of the NDDC, so we are begging you for the unity of Nigeria, for the love of our children, for the love of our country, for the love of our continent that Sen. Godswill Akpabio should be considered as next Senate president of Nigeria. He pleaded.

“We call on the vast majority of elected Senators to galvanize their support for the Senate Presidential ambition of Akpabio,” he said.