TheCable

Godswill Akpabio, former minister of Niger Delta affairs, has stepped down from the presidential race and asked his supporters to vote for Bola Tinubu.

He spoke on Tuesday at the special convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to elect the presidential candidate of the ruling party.

According to Akpabio, Tinubu, former governor of Lagos, has what it takes to perform excellently as president.

“I will join the next president to turn the boys in Nigeria into men. I doff my hat and I urge you, that as I withdraw now, vote for asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu,” Akpabio told his supporters.

The former minister, who declared his intention to contest the presidency in May, had said he is determined not to let Nigeria sink because the “deep well of experiences” he gathered in service has prepared him for the presidential position.

“You have heard a lot of declarations but this one is uncommon,” Akpabio had said.

“The message I’m bringing is not just a message of continuity of the jobs, of the infrastructure, of the women empowerment, of the story of turning boys into men, of the story of free education for all Nigerian children, of the story of unity, of hope, positive continuity and of the Egyptians you see today.

“It is a message of restoration of your dignity, respect in the ECOWAS region and beyond. I am determined not to let our nation sink but drink from the deep well of experiences I have from service.

“Therefore, I, senator Godswill Akpabio, hereby declare my intention to seek the nomination of my great party, the All Progressives Congress, to become your next president.”