- Says with 90% in support, Lawan will ensure APC’s victory
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodinma, has expressed confidence in the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chosen candidate, Godswill Akpabio, as the next Senate President, with barely 24 hours to the inauguration of the 10th Senate.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa, after the Democracy Day celebrations, he affirmed that the committee, set up by the President, established to resolve the leadership dispute has made significant progress in collaboration with the outgoing Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.
He assured that Lawan will work for the emergence of the preferred candidates of the party.
Asked about the purpose of meeting with the President, Uzodinma said: “After the event which you all witnessed, we had a closed session with President because what is at stake is a national interest, the interest of our country and how to ensure that the new president is supported to succeed.
“All over Africa, Nigeria is being looked upon that this time around we should produce a very strong president who will be bold and courageous in character. Who will be able to deliver Nigeria to our usual space of being the leader of the continent?
“So, we don’t want to allow for any domestic distraction to distract him from succeeding.
“So, we are going to pledge our support and work in synergy with our senators-elect to ensure that the election of tomorrow will be free and fair.
“You must have heard, the president in his wisdom organised a small technical committee to help coordinate the process of tomorrow’s election, which by my position as the chair of the Progressive Governors Forum, I am chairing that technical committee.
“We have done so much work to the extent that God has blessed our efforts that the majority of the senators-elect are now in sync with the position of the party.”
Asked if Akpabio’s win will be effortless since the majority of the lawmakers were in sync, Uzordinma said: “Well, for a substantial consensus and by the number of people and by the efforts we have put in place, it is our hope that tomorrow it might even be a consensus event. But to the glory of God, we pray for that and at the same time, hope that should we go into an election, Akpabio’s acceptance as of today cuts across the political party we belong, in other political parties there are also some same minds who are interested in the development and progress of Nigeria. Who also understands the need to safeguard democracy as being practised in Nigeria today. And they are in sync with our preferred candidate.”
The Imo State governor explained that Akpabio aims to establish a mutually beneficial outcome for parliament members, rather than dictating to them.
He said: “Akpabio is going there to create a win-win situation for members of the parliament. He is not going there to be a dictator. He is going there to work with his colleagues. He is going there to work in synergy, collectively they will reason, collectively they will plan, collectively they will deliver the dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people.
“It is about Nigeria and not about the individuals. And he is a man too that has a track record of performance.
“Recall his performance as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and when he came during the 8th Senate. Even as a first-time senator, he emerged as the minority leader of the senate. That is a show of confidence by his colleagues. And I think that he will do that which he knows how to do better this time around.”
Also speaking, Akpabio assured of a united 10th Senate under his leadership. He boasted of having 90 per cent of the senators-elect supporting his candidacy.
On what he is bringing on board should he eventually win, Akpabio said: “Robust legislative debate which I will do everything possible to ensure that we meet the aspirations of Nigerians. We will hold public hearings before we take any decision in the interests of Nigerians, for the betterment of Nigeria.
“We will think Nigeria first, every senator irrespective of political party must come into the chambers as a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“So, we have a lot to do. We must assist the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to put the right policies in place by putting the right legislation in place to make sure that business thrives and create employment opportunities for Nigerians.
“I assure you that every senator is important and there’s no political party once I’m inside there, everybody is important and all political parties shall be carried along.
Asked how he intends to pacify those who are not on the same page with him, he said: “In the business of politics not everybody will be on the same page. But here, we have over 90 per cent of the people supporting the choice of the party and I believe that even those that are not on board, I assure them that I will carry them on board.”
Asked if his victory is sure with over 90 per cent support, Akpabio said: “I won’t say anything but I will say we leave it to God Almighty. But I must thank the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and the governor of Imo State and former governor of Kano State and all former governors in the APC and all the governors in PDP and other political parties and even all the political parties we have visited who have shown so much support in having one Nigerian National Assembly, one Nigerian senate and a senate that will work for the good people of Nigeria.
“That is my pledge and I assure you that it shall be uncommon.”