2023: An Infrastructure Champion Like Akpabio Is Best As President

A group of Nigerian Professionals, Godswill Akpabio Uncommon Transformational Support Organisation (GAUTSO) has stated that with the present state of the nation, the next president of the country should be someone who understands how to close the infrastructure gap speedily and ignite economic growth.

At an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, GAUTSO, revealed that the only Nigerian who has a track record of delivering infrastructural development on a large scale is Niger Delta Minister and former Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio whom it aptly described as an infrastructure champion.

According to the group’s spokesperson, Chief Bennett Akar, there is no doubt that Nigeria at this time is suffering from infrastructure challenges in all spheres roads, power, healthcare, education etc. And it is right that we begin to have a conversation on the person who can deliver these things as we discuss the 2023 presidential elections.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio as Governor of Akwa Ibom State had no rival among his peers. His footprints are stamped all over the state years after he had left office, that is evidence that rather than cut corners, he delivered qualitative and durable projects.

” I remember vividly when he was sworn in as Governor, he said infrastructure is the basic foundation of any state and brings development and he went on to deliver mega projects such as the Victor Attah International Airport and 30,000 capacity Nest of Champions Stadium (which had now been rechristened Godswill Akpabio Stadium by the current governor.) and  the 302-bed  Ibom Multi-Specialty Hospital

“Akwa Ibom under his watch was a huge construction with roads, bridges and flyovers.

“Virtually all parts of the state was touched by his drive for infrastructural excellence. His intervention had the immediate benefit of changing the landscape of the state and attracting investors and tourists to the state.

Chief Akar also noted that as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, he has used his position to steer the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the right direction in the area of infrastructure. For example the East-West Road which had been under construction since 2006 is now getting due attention by the commission and to show how serious he is about prioritizing infrastructure, in 2020, 345 projects were stepped down to accommodate the N10billion in the budget for the completion of this all important road.

According to Akar”We applaud the Buhari administration for its infrastructural interventions, but the only person who can take it a notch higher is Senator Akpabio because he had always seen it as the key to unlocking our potential and fast tracking our development.”