Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has told Nigerians to relax, declaring that he will speak on his speculated 2023 presidential ambition at the appropriate time.
The former Senate Minority Leader said this in reaction to several calls from groups, organisations and individuals that he throw his hat into the ring and contest the presidential election.
“Let me move on the basis of my records. Everybody is consulting and people are coming and asking me, when are you taking the giant step? I am telling them, just relax God is in control and at the right time, God will direct.”
Akpabio stated this when he received in audience the leadership of the Arewa Concerned Citizens For Development and members of the Presidential Support Committee (PSC) who came to formally call on him to run for the Office of the President in 2023.
The group, according to its national vice chairman, Honourable Huseni Ladan, said: “Apart from coming to call on our leader in the Presidential Support Committee (PSC), to run for the presidency, we are also here to present him this award for his outstanding contributions to the development country and peace in the NIger Delta Region.”
Akpabio, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Jackson Udom, said: “When God finally directs, I am not in doubt, I have you as my foot soldiers.
“You are not just anybody. When people like you speak, God listens. He will continue to honour you all as you have honoured me today.
“I receive this award with gladness and I dedicate it to President Muhamadu Buhari, who gave me the opportunity to serve Nigerians in a difficult time like this.”
Commenting on calls for his declaration of interest in the presidential contest, the former Akwa Ibom State governor said: “I will say that the time is ripe and your move is also apt. I am also consulting. I know we are in dire need of steps to put the country together.
“I am a bit shocked. I wasn’t expecting this honour. It only shows that yes, indeed, our efforts at building bridges across Nigeria and across different religious and ethnic divides then, is working. We will continue to work together.
“As a governor of Akwa Ibom State, I was lucky to have Muslim brothers from the North as my CSO, ADC and Orderly. We worked together; we didn’t even recognize who was a Muslim or not.
“As a Christian governor, I sponsored several Muslims to the Holy Land, among numerous interventions across the country.
“I tell people, don’t talk about the unity of this country with your mouth; put it into practice like I did. Don’t talk about development with your mouth; put it into practice.”
Speaking further, Akpabio noted that what the president needed most at this time was prayers from Nigerians to enable him achieve more for the people.
He added that, no matter the antics and machinations of enemies, the current leadership of the country will berth the ship of governance at a very enviable place.
“We have to work together, to nip a lot of things in the bud. There are so many enemies around. They are conspiring to see how they can bring the present government down. I am very convinced that God will not allow them.
“What we are facing today is what I call challenges. Every country does face challenges. With God’s grace, we will survive as a nation,” he declared.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Honourable Huseni Ladan, who is also the North West Coordinator of the PSC, lauded Akpabio for his sterling national qualities which he said has continued to endear him to Nigerians, adding that that is the major reason why Nigerians are calling and waiting for him to declare for the presidency.
“We are all proud of your leadership, because it was under you as the national coordinator of the PSC that this government was voted back to office in 2019.
“This is a structure we have maintained all over the country till this moment. We are waiting for the right direction and we will stand and support you because we have confidence and trust in you,”Ladan said in the release.
