Godswill Akpabio, presidential candidate for the Congress of all progressives (APC), promised to transform Nigeria to enviable heights if he receives the party’s ticket and finally emerges as president in 2023.
Mr. Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa Ibom and Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, made the pledge on Friday while addressing APC delegates from APC Oyo State in Ibadan.
Mr. Akpabio was received by Teslim Folarin (APC-Oyo Central) and the party’s state gubernatorial candidate and members of the state executive led by President Isaac Omodewu.
On Thursday, Folarin told another APC presidential hopeful, Bola Tinubu, that all state delegates “belong to him.”
Akpabio said that his small effort transformed Akwa-Ibom into an enviable state, adding that this was his vision of a greater Nigeria.
The hopeful recounted his achievements as Governor of Akwa-Ibom and Minister of the Niger Delta, saying that replicating them in Nigeria would be very helpful to the country.
“My little effort in Akwa-Ibom as governor transformed the state into an enviable state among Nigerian states. These efforts at Akwa-Ibom span all sectors.
“I followed in the footsteps of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in education by declaring free education in Akwa-Ibom.
“I spent N100 per term per child in primary school and N300 per term per child in secondary school,” he said.
The former governor, while acknowledging the efforts of the administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari on security, pledged to address insecurity if given the mandate.
“I will engage the traditional institution and other relevant stakeholders to achieve this.
“We must give traditional rulers and other stakeholders a role to play in addressing insecurity,” he said.
Akpabio said that he would guarantee national integration and the promotion of moral ethos to foster unity and discipline in the country.
According to him, I am still a Nigerian and I hope to pass on Nigeria to my children.
The presidential hopeful urged delegates to consider integrity, credentials, background and achievements when choosing the party’s presidential candidate.
ALSO READ: I will perfect Buhari’s ‘wonderful works’, if elected president – Akpabio
Aliyu Modibbo, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the choice of who would become the country’s president was very important.
Modibbo said it was important because “there is a need to enthrone people with electoral value and vast experience like Akpabio.”
He said that Mr. Akpabio was one of the most experienced applicants, having served as a commissioner, senator, minister and governor.
In his remarks, Folarin said that he had asked Akpabio to visit delegates from Oyo state in Ibadan.
“We have 99 delegates, the third highest in the country, so those who need our votes come here to see us.
“For us, those candidates who are courting delegates through the newspapers are not serious.
“Among all the applicants from outside the South-West who have visited us, we will support them,” he said.
NAN reports that Mr. Akpabio was accompanied by former Governor Garba Umar de Taraba; Garba Audu, retired general; and Sylvester Okonkwo.
(YAYA)
SEE: Governor Yahaya Bello’s roadmap to Hope 2023