No Going Back On My Election Petition – Akpabio

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – Despite being cleared effortlessly by the Nigerian Senate as a Ministerial nominee, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, is not backing down on his petition before the Elections Tribunal currently sitting in Uyo, capital of the South-South State.

Akpabio is challenging his loss of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial seat in the February 23, 2019 National Assembly polls and indicates that withdrawing the case from court is not an option on the table for now.

However, he said serving Nigeria dutifully and to the  best of  his ability in any capacity is an honour that will not be compromised under any circumstances.

Speaking with journalists shortly after appearing before the Red Chamber, Sen Akpabio said the election case is not about him but the electorate and also ensuring the right thing is done at all times.

According to him, “It is not about me being a Senator or Minister. It is about the people we represent.”

He stated that if the case goes well at the Tribunal, it means that All Progressive Congress (APC) will increase its numbers within the upper legislative chamber.

On his nomination as one of 43 Minister designates, the ex-Governor pledged to give his best in any area assigned to him by the President.

He said the most important thing here is effective mandate delivery, adding; “I will do my best to help the President take Nigeria to the Next Level.”

Akpabio, who was the Senate Minority Leader of the 8th Assembly between 2015 and 2018 before joining the governing APC for the 2019 elections, said he is committed to Mr President’s vision of executing the Next Level agenda in agriculture and industrialisation.

“As a minister, I’m ready to work and do my best in any Ministry it pleases Mr President to assign me. I will represent Nigerians very well now at a larger scale as a Minister. I will not change. Whenever I find myself, I will leave the people better than I met them,’’ Senator Akpabio assured.

“By this, we are talking about minimising banditry; increasing our foreign direct investments; and putting Nigeria on the threshold of industrialisation.

“It is worrisome that many manufacturing companies have left the country. In Kano alone, more than 15 textile companies have left due to issue of decay in infrastructure.

“We will close the doors of people exiting Nigeria and open doors to make people come in, especially the investors.

“I will work with the government on statistics so as to plan because a nation that fails to plan always plans to fail.”

Known fir his outspoken nature, the former Senate Minority Leader stressed that building and maintaining a national data base is key for development purposes

“We must know the number of people coming out of our universities and the numbers of children that are being born in our hospitals, to enable us make proper plans”, he said.

Senator Akpabio also expressed his views about the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, describing it as part of Federal Government’s interventionist plans to address agitations in the Niger Delta region.

“It is important to note first that the place is an interventionist agency. Peace is extremely important there for the benefit of the residents, companies doing businesses there and government at all levels”, he said

The Ministerial nominee, who decried playing petty politics with development issues and national assignments, said; “I won’t engage myself in politically motivated projects that have no bearing on the lives of our people.’’

Senator Akpabio, alongside Sen. George Akume, Sen Mamoura, and Hon Emeka Nwajuiba were among the early birds at the Senate screening and having served as National Assembly (NASS) members at one time or the other, excused from the usual rigours of the process which began on Wednesday, July 24, 2019