A major group within the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Conference of All Progressives Congress (APC) support groups, has appealed to Sen. Barau Jibrin to work with Sen. Goodswill Akpabio, in the contest for the Senate Presidency and be his deputy.
The groups made the call in a statement signed by its national Chairman Alhaji Gambo Jagindi on Thursday in Abuja.
”As it stands today, the APC, will be in the majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, with 59 Senators-Elect and 178 Reps-Elect from the official results declared so far by INEC.
”The role of the National Assembly in enabling true democracy to thrive cannot be overemphasised.
”And so we the critical stakeholders of the APC believe that the party should not leave anything to chance in ensuring that all of those who worked for its success in the just concluded general elections are carried along.
”This is to avoid a reoccurrence of the 2015 scenario where some elected National Assembly members on the platform of the APC, formed an unholy alliance with opposition parties and rocked the boat of the APC. The party must not, and never allow such unpleasant and retrogressive histories to be repeated,” the said in the statement.
The groups noted that the APC, as a party with progressive political ideology, and with a President-Elect, who believes in national unity and cohesion, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, all regions and religions should be given a place in governance.
”We therefore, believe that formidable candidates, who have all it takes to be the number three and five in the hierarchy of the country’s leadership, should be carefully nominated by those who wish the APC to succeed in this huge task of nation building.
”No doubt that the seat of the President of the Senate is a top position which wields a lot of influence, and one that holds the gavel to either make or mar the executive.
” This position must therefore be given only to a party member, who will ensure that the APC is seen as the true national party that it is, to ensure the growth and development of Nigeria.
”Therefore, looking at the achievements and antecedents of Sen. Goodswill Akpabio and Sen. Barau Jubrin, two legislators that have contributed immensely to the development of democracy in the party and the Senate, it will be a great achievement if they are elected Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively,” it said.
According to the groups, the emergence of the duo for these two top legislative positions in the10th Senate will definitely complement the experience and willingness of the incoming President, Tinubu and the incoming Vice President Sen. Kashim Shetima to deliver on good governance to Nigeria.
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”This will also help in building an enviable political party, with a strong structure, support and adequate compensation for loyal and hard working party members.
”It will place APC above oppositions in such a way that future elections will be won by the party even before the election day.
”As the date for the inauguration of the next government gets closer, it is incumbent on all party faithful to strategise and put the future and interests of the party above all other interest for the long time health and survival of the party.
”On this note we believe that all hands must be on deck to initiate a strategic process of pushing forward capable hands and supporting such suitable candidates for different offices especially the office of the President the Senate and his deputy, for a viable and vibrant 10th assembly for the betterment of our party and Nigeria at large.
