Senator Godswill Akpabio has promised that Nigeria will witness an enviable transformation, if he is elected as the president in the 2023 elections.
The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs made the declaration when he visited Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday, to meet with the leadership and delegates of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akpabio further said, if given the APC presidential ticket and he eventually wins the election, his administration would transform the country.
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State said his little effort transformed the state into an enviable position, adding that he has a greater vision for the entire country.
“Our country is in dire need of a leadership that will reshape the economy and create jobs for our teeming youths. With job creations, the issue of banditry and other related vices will become a thing of the past.
“As a-two term governor of Akwa Ibom State, the achievements are there as testament to my ability to transform the country, if given the opportunity.
“As a Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, we were able to address the problem of insecurity through the introduction of Amnesty Programme.
“As at today, the issue of militancy is gradually becoming a thing of the past. I am here to solicit votes while I am promising not to let you down,” he said.
Akpabio recounted his achievements as a state governor and and as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, saying such, if replicated at the national level, would put the country in a good stead.
“My little effort in Akwa-Ibom as a governor transformed the state into an enviable state among states in Nigeria. These efforts in Akwa-Ibom cut across all sectors.
“I followed the footprint of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo on education by declaring free education in Akwa-Ibom State.
“I spent N100 per term per child in primary schools and N300 per term per child in secondary schools,” Akpabio said in his address to the Oyo APC leaders.
The former governor who acknowledged the efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on security, pledged to tackle insecurity, if given the mandate.
“I will involve the traditional institution and other relevant stakeholders in achieving this. We must give traditional rulers and other stakeholders roles to play in tackling insecurity,” he said.
Akpabio also said he would ensure national integration and promotion of moral ethos as a means to fostering unity and discipline in the country.
“I remain a Nigerian and hope to bequeath Nigeria to my children”, he said and urged Oyo APC delegates to consider integrity, credentials, antecedents and achievements in picking the party’s presidential candidate.
Responding, Senator Teslim Folarin, the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, said he was the one who asked Akpabio to visit state delegates in Ibadan, given their numerical strength.
“We have 99 delegates, the third highest in the country . So those who need our votes come here to see us.
“For us, those aspirants who are wooing delegates through newspapers are not serious aspirants. Among all the aspirants from outside South-West who have visited us, we will support you [Akpabio],” he said.
Speaking earlier, the coordinator of the Senator Godswill Akpabio Presidential Team, Dr Aliyu Modibbo, said the choice of who becomes the president of the country was very important.
Modibbo, who is a former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said such a consideration is important because there of the need to elect people with electoral value and imbued with vast experience like Akpabio.
He described Akpabio as one of the most experienced of the APC presidential aspirants, having served as a commissioner, governor, senator and minister.
Akpabio was received by Senator Folarin, the state party chairman, Mr Isaac Omodewu, youth leader, women leaders and other members of the executive of the party.
The APC presidential aspirant was accompanied to the meeting by a former governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, General Garba Audu and Mr Sylvester Okonkwo, among others.
