By: Our correspondent
Despite rumours making the rounds, Senate minority leader, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has refuted reports he is eyeing the presidency in 2019.
According to the former Akwa Ibom governor, since the PDP has zoned the slot to the North it would be impracticable for the south to take a shot.
Akpabio’s position was contained in a statement by his spokesman, Anietie Ekong, Akpabio noted that the South-South has had its shot at the Presidency through Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari barely one year ago, so it is politically impracticable in the present Nigeria to expect another South-South man to aspire to succeed Buhari.
While describing the reports as the work of mischief makers, Akpabio said he is presently concerned with working with other law makers to enact legislation that will improve the lives and living standard of Nigerians.
The statement reads thus: “The attention of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio has been drawn to publications in the social media about his purported posters campaigning for the Presidency in 2019.
Continuing the statement said: “We wish to state categorically that Senator Akpabio has no ambition of contesting for the Presidency in 2019 and is not behind such campaigns. It is the handiwork of mischief makers.
It is instructive that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he belongs to has zoned the Presidency to the North by 2019. The South-South has had its shot at the Presidency through Dr Goodluck Jonathan who handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari barely one year ago. And it is politically impracticable in the present Nigeria to expect another South-South man to aspire to succeed President Buhari.
We implore well meaning Nigerians to ignore these publications as they do not emanate from nor have the blessing of Senator Akpabio. The mischief-makers should desist from actions that tend to heat the polity.
Senator Akpabio as the Senate Minority Leader is presently concerned with working with other law makers to enact legislation that will improve the lives and living standard of Nigerians. He should not be distracted by a phantom campaign as such ambition only exist in the imagination of the mischief-makers”.
