The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has identified himself as one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State.
The Minister who spoke at the APC Stakeholders Meeting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital, where he was unanimously called upon to provide direction for the APC in Akwa Ibom State, said “I’m not the leader of APC in Akwa Ibom. I am only one of the Leaders of APC in Akwa Ibom. Sam Enwang is a leader of APC, Chief Don Etiebet is a Leader of APC, Senator Udoedege is a leader of APC, Umana Umana is a leader of APC, Obong Nsima Ekere is a leader of APC, Valerie Ebe is a leader of APC. But of all the leaders of APC, what you are saying is let us pick one person to give us direction”.
He accepted the responsibility and assured party faithful of his readiness to provide the right leadership for the party. According to him, “What you have called me out to do now is that I should begin to give direction to the multitude, so that our people will not go astray. I give you my words today, that I have accepted your call, and your lives will never be the same again. Lack of direction ends today”.
Akpabio described the need for leadership in the party as the beginning of a new phase and a sign of reawakening that would strengthen and unite the APC in Akwa Ibom State, adding “We have the capacity, we have the followership, we have the intellect, and we have all it takes to win elections for APC in Akwa Ibom. Tell our people not to think of defecting because of these pockets of issues, we are going to bring everybody together. This is a clear sign for all who expect that we are going to break up in APC in Akwa Ibom. We are not going to break up. We are going to surprise those who want to be surprised”.
The minister attributed what befell APC in the 2019 election in Akwa Ibom State to lack of unity among APC members, and called on members of the party to unite for a common goal as the party prepares for 2023 election.
“The 2019 election was in your hands, you won the election before the election. You can’t tell me that in any football match, you have all the first eleven ready, but when they want to kick the football, leadership comes in. The leadership would say, don’t kick forward yet, be passing the ball to the goalkeeper until I tell you to move forward. They kept passing to the goalkeeper until they lost. The 2019 election was an election where it was APC that fought against the APC in Akwa Ibom State. APC connived against APC in Akwa Ibom State.
Group Captain Sam Enwang (rtd), a stalwart of APC in Akwa Ibom State, who convened the Stakeholders’ Meeting, said the party needs a thoroughbred and good thinking leader to provide the right direction in Akwa Ibom State.
“Akwa Ibom needs thoroughbreeds. We need good thinkers in Akwa Ibom State, not people who think only for themselves, and by themselves” he said.
The former Military governor described Senator Akpabio as a leader that would lead the party in the right direction to take over power in the State. He said that he actually asked him(Akpabio) to come and perform this task, knowing that he has what it takes to direct the party in the right path.
“Today, I have been able to secure the Honourable Minister, who had been the leader of this party and for whatever reason, because of the attitude of our people he decided to stand aloof. He did not want to come, not because he did not know that it is his place to perform that job. I want to thank him for honouring me, for respecting me, and for answering me. When I spoke to him, he said he knows he is the leader of the party, but I should go and ask my people why he has not come. I said I am not asking anybody, I am asking you.
“Today he is here. He has accepted, beyond accepting, it is his place, it is his natural position as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We don’t have a governor. I want to call on him to come and lead the party” he beckoned to Akpabio.
Other APC Stakeholder in the State expressed confidence in the ability of Senator Akpabio to lead APC in Akwa Ibom State on the path of unity and success, calling on him to reunite all factions in the party for the purpose of the Party taking over power in the State.
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