Ahead of tomorrow’s election for principal officers, including the Senate President, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has emerged as the preferred candidate by all 36 governors of the country.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that this information was disclosed by Governor Seyi Makinde, the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), on Monday.
Governor Makinde revealed that irrespective of party affiliation, all the governors unanimously endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s choice for the next Senate President, considering the importance of fairness and equity.
According to the Oyo State Governor, they (the governors) emphasised the need for a Christian Senate President from the South-South region to balance the religious representation, as the current President and Vice President are Muslims.
Addressing the audience at the post-second term inauguration interdenominational thanksgiving service organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Fathers of Faith in Oyo State, held at Oritamefa Baptist Church, Total Garden, Ibadan, Governor Makinde clarified that the decision was not motivated by religious factors but rather aimed at ensuring inclusivity and harmony in the nation’s leadership.
Governor Makinde affirmed the governors’ unwavering commitment to their choice for the next Senate President, vowing to expose and defeat those he referred to as “enemies of the country.”
He said, “We have an assignment and it is a big deal for this country. This time tomorrow, the leadership of the National Assembly will be known. Our reality is that there are enemies of this country. They believe in sowing seeds of discord.
“They tried it in Oyo State in the last election, the people of the state did not allow them and they went away in shame. And we will do it at the national level. Tomorrow, they will go away in shame. “We already have a president that is of Islamic faith; we have a Vice President who is of Islamic faith; the number three is the Senate President.
“We, the governors in Nigeria across party lines, came together and said we will support the choice of the president, who is a Christian from the South-South.
“We are not playing religious political but what is fair is fair. We stood for Southern presidency. We stood for justice, fairness and equity as well; we are going to stand for equity, as well, in this regard.”
Speaking further, Makinde said the fathers of faith in Oyo State bought him into vying for a second term in office with the argument that he needed to consolidate upon his strides in his first term.
Recall that last month, the All Progressives Congress (APC) designated the position of Senate President in the 10th Assembly to the South-South region, with Senator Godswill Akpabio as the preferred candidate. Additionally, Senator Jubrin Barau from the North West was selected as the favoured candidate for the deputy Senate President position.
