Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has declared support for the Senate Presidential ambition of Senator Godswill Akpabio.
By his declaration of support, Mr Sanwo-Olu aligns with the All Progressives Congress (APC) with picked the former Niger Delta Affairs minister as its preferred candidate for the position.
The nomination of the former Akwa Ibom governor for the top seat has been rejected by members and aspirants of his party but Mr Akpabio’s group, codenamed the Stability Group, boast of being made up of 69 senators-elect out of the 109 seats at the red chamber.
Declaring his support on Sunday, a day after the anointed candidates of the party for the House of Representatives visited him, Sanwo-Olu said his was doing so having read the legislative agenda being pushed forward by the Akpabio-led team to raise the bar of lawmaking and readiness to collaborate with the incoming administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Receiving his guests at the State House in Marina on Sunday, the governor said the party’s nomination process to pave the way for election of senate leadership was in order, stressing that Akpabio’s team possessed the political credentials and leadership qualities to bring about uncommon transformation in our country.
“Having discussed extensively and listened to all the plans and agenda presented by Stability Group led by Senator Akpabio, I believe it is proper and appropriate that we, in Lagos, give them our official endorsement,” he said.
“This is a project for the stability of the country, which will benefit Nigerians, especially the people who elected these distinguished lawmakers-elect. They are committed to working harmoniously with the executive and this will bring about a win-win for all our citizens and for democracy.
“We are encouraging other lawmakers-elect who are yet to be on this team to fall in line. I will also appeal to the Stability Group to continue their consultation and collaboration, and not to take anyone for granted. They have personally assured me that they will make the senate leadership as inclusive as possible. The diversity they are preaching is reflected in the number of the senators-elect on the team; it is not one party. The membership cuts across all the parties that are represented in the National Assembly.
“I believe the incoming 10th National Assembly will be about great possibilities and shaping new course for the nation. Given the outstanding profile and experience Senator Akpabio and his team are bringing to the table, I believe there will be new standards and new legislative records will break. I will only urge the incoming senate leadership to surpass whatever achievements recorded by the 9th senate.”
