Why I Am Supporting Akpabio To Become Senate President - Shettima | READ DETAILS

Shettima declared his support for Akpabio and Jibrin Barau (for deputy senate president) on Wednesday when the duo visited him in Abuja in company of other senators-elect.

According to Shettima, his support for Akpabio and Barau is in the interest of stability and unity as the country already has Muslims as president-elect and Vice president -elect.

In his words;

"The President-elect and the Vice President-elect are both Muslims. It is in the interest of the stability and unity of this country that the next position be given to the Christian faith. If not, it would further validate the alleged Islamisation agenda of the APC-led administration.

"It would be perceived as a gratuitous insult to our Christian brothers and sisters who stuck out their necks to support us. That was why I was quite pleased with the choice of the party leadership that my uncommon brother and leader, in the person of Senator Godswill Akpabio, should be the number three citizen of this country.

"The stability of this nation is much more important than whatever political considerations we may think of. We need to have a stable and united nation before we can talk about politics and positions. This is what our leader could do to unite this country in the current circumstances.ÔÇØ

Shettima also disclosed that he would reach out to other Senate presidential aspirants who are aggrieved with the choices of the APC.

"Senator Abdulaziz Yari is my brother and friend. We became governors together from 2011-2019 on the same political platform. But the nation is superior to other personal considerations. I am quite happy with what I see here today. It is a reflection of those who crave the stability and unity of this country in a bipartisan manner,ÔÇØ he added.

Speaking on the contribution of Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike and his Ebonyi state counterpart, Dave Umahi, Shettima stated;

"The Governor-General of the South-South (Wike) is a man of honour and integrity. Whatever you see is what you get, as far as Wike is concerned.

"These are people that have contributed immensely to the stability of this country. Umahi is the best-performing governor in the South-East. He is a man of honour and integrity. He wanted to contest for the Senate leadership but he had to drop it in reverence to the party's decision.

"I have seen the names of those who are yet to join us. Rest assured that we will positively engage them and make them see the reasons why they have to come on board.

"My principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a veteran politician. He knows how to go about bringing them into the fold before the inauguration of the National AssemblyÔÇØ.

Responding, Akpabio noted that their visit to Shettima was to ensure national cohesion and stability and also to ensure that Nigeria moves forward in the right direction.

"We are not here because the party zoned the position to the most ranked Senator from the South-South, Senator Godswill Akpabio. We came together to ensure national cohesion and the stability of the polity and to ensure that Nigeria moves forward in the right direction,ÔÇØ Akpabio said.