Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio had boasted that the vote for President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is more than the 5 states in the entire South East region.
The Senate President stated this on Sunday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) South-South Zonal Executive Committee Meeting at Metropolitan Hotel Calabar the Cross River State Capital.
According to the Senate President, it is the desire of Mr President that Governor Bassey Otu should have another governor from the south south region..
He said the coming Edo State Governorship election in September is the focus of the meeting to ensure that the APC take control of Edo State Government House.
He said after 45 years, God has blessed the region with another opportunity of producing another Senate President.
Akpabio who called for a minute silence for the former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, said President Bola Tunubu meant well for the region by bringing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
In his remarks the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC Victor Giadom said
‘As you are aware, the Party at the zonal level is among others charged with the responsibility of initiating and deepening consultation and conversations amongst party members to promote party unity, deepen leadership consensus, identify current and emerging challenges, proffer solutions and mainstream development issues of the South-South zone into the Renewed Hope Agenda”
“As you are also aware in spite of the fact that the Renewed Hope Agenda is making waves and impacts on lives through several high impact projects such as the Lagos- Calabar coastal road, the building of the Onne axis of the East-West Road among others; our Party suffers a political deficit in respect of its control of only one state in the region. This is a situation that calls for consistent consultation as we have today; and let me assure our Party members and Distinguished Leaders of the South-South zone that this consultations will remain until we win over the other states in the zone.
“At this point, let me thank all the delegates for your prompt response despite the short notice. Particularly, we are extremely grateful to His Excellency, Senator Bassey Otu, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, for the lavish support and hospitality that is obvious to all. We thank you His Excellency, for coordinating us and I assure you of the continued support of the Party in your dual capacity as our zonal Coordinator and the Governor of the ever beautiful Cross River State, the home of Tourism in Nigeria.
‘Let me also in a very special way thank the 15th President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, our leader, His Excellency, Senator Goodwill Obot Akpabio, a strategic and uncommon political philosopher, lover of the South-South and a unifier of the Nigerian Project for your uncommon support to the Party in ensuring that this meeting is held. Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the Party in the South-South zone to thank the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for their confidence in you and by extension the South South region. There could not have been a better choice. Your Excellency, the Senate President, let me also assure you on behalf of the zonal party Executive Council of our support at all times.
“In all, it is important to solicit the support of leadership at all levels of our Party to mobilize the people in support of Mr. President and the Renewed Hope Agenda. This is particularly important because of the huge infrastructural development, appointments, and other people centered projects being invested in the South South. We have no justification not to win the forthcoming Edo Governorship elections. Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to call on our leaders, particularly in Edo State to resolve all differences and mobilize the good people of Edo State to realize their trust and belief in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Perhaps it is important to draw the attention of our leaders at all levels to the forthcoming E-membership registration of our great party. At this age of information technology, the Party can no longer afford to continue on an analogue template. Consequently, I appeal to our leaders to ensure that the registration is successful in every political ward and unit. Needless to remind you that the E-registration will afford us the opportunity not just to know the registered members of our Party but also afford us an membership. institutionalized and accurate statistical database of our mall, again, let me thank all our party delegates for your sacrifices, commitment, and zeal in driving our Party in your various wards and states. It is my hope that you will continue to deepen unity and build consensus amongst leaders at your various states.
“May I also use this opportunity to humbly appeal to elected and appointed members among us to financially support the Party. This will go a long way to assist the party in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
“Finally, let me thank the Zonal Executive officers and the various state Chairmen in the zone for your cooperation and understanding. I wish you fruitful and rewarding deliberations while also hoping you will take time to view the esthetic and ancient town of Calabar and the warmth hospitality of the good people of Cross River State.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State had thanked the President for giving Cross River State more appointment and appealed that loyal party members should be rewarded.
