NASS leadership: Akpabio, Betera may have it – APC chieftain

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Tukura Kwayi, has urged the ruling party to consider former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, for Senate president during the process of zoning the leadership for the 10th National Assembly.

The development is coming hours after the APC released a statement in Abuja, saying that it hasn’t zoned any of the principal offices to a particular zone or aspirant.

Kwayi, who made the call at a press conference on Friday, also drummed support for the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be given to veteran lawmaker, Aliyu Betara.

While describing Akpabio and Betera as cerebral administrators with sterling qualities, the leader of APC National Progressive Hub reiterated that no candidate in both chambers matches their credentials.

He said, “Senator Akpabio who is a prominent lawyer has the wherewithal and the quality of mind having served as a two-term governor in Akwa Ibom State. He is currently heading for his second term in the Senate and will definitely bring value and valour to the next administration.

He said, “It is in that spirit we strongly root for Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio as Senate President because we believe he has the capacity and the Pan Nigerian spirit to steer the wheel of legislative governance positively in the 10th Senate.

“For the Speakership position, we believe Rt Hon Mukhtar Aliyu Betara has the capacity of mind and the intellect to unite the 360-member House of Representatives at a time where both the governing All Progressives Congress has an almost equal number of lawmakers with the combined opposition political parties.

“The House of Representatives indeed needs a man with the statesmanly disposition, the quality of character, and indeed the needed legislative experience to preside over the affairs of the house

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“Also worthy of mention is the fact that Betara is in his fourth term going to his fifth. No Lawmaker among the colony of aspirants for the nation’s no 4 position parades that record and qualification.”

Punch