TheCable

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, says he is supporting Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, for senate president because he is the preferred candidate of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking when he appeared on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, Ndume said Tinubu also told him to spearhead Akpabio’s campaign and ensure he becomes the number three citizen.

Even though the All Progressives Congress (APC) has chosen Akpabio to be senate president, the likes of Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, and Orji Uzor Kalu, chief whip of the senate, have insisted on contesting the position.

The Borno senator said supporting the former senate minority leader is about “justice” and “doing what is right”.

“There are so many that contributed to my reason to stand for Akpabio, because one the president had interest and had Akpabio as his preferred candidate and number two, he had the confidence of asking me to lead the campaign,” he said.

“Most importantly, it is about justice, about equity, about the constitution and doing what is right and standing for what is justful for this country.

“This country belongs to all of us. The constitution says that the country should be run in such a way that no tribe or religion in this country will feel marginalised.

“The right thing to do is to get someone from the south-south particularly and beneficiary of that happens to be Akpabio. He is the most ranking from that area, he has the experience and he is from the south-south.”

The 10th national assembly will be inaugurated on June 13.