Olujonwo Obasanjo, one of the sons of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has endorsed the candidacy of former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio for the Senate presidency.
The son of the former president, who is a cacique of the Congress of all progressives (APC) also supported the candidacy of Abbas Tajudeen as the next speaker of the House of Representatives.
The APC National Labor Committee had nominated Messrs. Akpabio and Tajudeen as President of the Senate and Speaker of the House for the 10th National Assembly.
Other candidates for the two positions and their supporters have criticized the nominations on the zoning formula adopted by the party.
But Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima said on Friday the nominations were considered to ensure the party balances religion in the country’s political leadership.
Obasanjo, while addressing reporters in Abuja on Saturday, called on elected federal lawmakers to support the APC nominations.
He said that Mr. Akpabio is qualified for the position, having shown loyalty to the party and to the elected president, Bola Tinubu.
“Senator Akpabio obtained the APC presidential nomination form, but on the night of the primaries, he was the first contender to step down from the now president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
“Senator Akpabio has earned the respect and trust of party leaders and the president-elect and all other stakeholders. Therefore, the nomination of him as the next president of the Senate is very welcome.
The son of the former president also affirmed that Abass has the qualities to be a good speaker of the House of Representatives.
“Hon. Tajudeen Abass’ exceptional contribution to law making is enough to secure him the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives,” he said.
ALSO READ: Why Tinubu chose Akpabio to be President of the Shettima Senate
“This unassuming gentleman from the famous Zazzau royal family is such a pioneer in the law-making aspect that he alone has sponsored 74 bills and 21 of them have been signed into law by the president,” he added.
“The Hon Abass is so loved and trusted by his constituents that he has returned to represent them for a third term in the House. Hon Abass’ constituency bills are well underway in every part of the constituency and out of 114 bills enacted between 2019 and now, he only has 21 in a 360-member House.”