TheCable

Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, has visited Edwin Clark, convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), to seek his support.

Akpabio, who is the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the senate president position, met with Clark in his home in Abuja on Saturday.

The senator assured the Ijaw leader that if he is elected senate president, greater attention would be paid to the Niger Delta region.

“I am here today, not to only tell you about the zoning arrangement but to formally tell you that I am coming out once again, to make you, the south-south region and the entire country proud and to also receive your blessings and prayers for the task ahead,” he said.

On his part, Clark urged the 10th assembly to work towards the unity of Nigeria by electing Akpabio.

He argued that the division in the country will widen if all the top positions are taken by Muslims.

“The north cannot do it alone. And we the south cannot do it alone. We should be equal partners. If all the positions are taken by Muslims, then we don’t have a country and the division continues,” Clark said.

“The president of Nigeria is a Muslim. The vice-president of Nigeria is a Muslim. The chief justice of Nigeria is a Muslim. The chief of staff to the president is a Muslim.

“The speaker of the house of representatives they are going to elect is a Muslim. So what kind of country are we going to have?

“It is time to heal our land and in so doing, what I expect of the 10th senate is to give the position of the senate president to a Christian senator from the south south.

“Therefore, the president of the senate should be supported to emerge from the south south. A south south senator, who is a Christian.

“So, I am happy you are here and you have my blessings to become the next senate president.”