Senate President Charges Lawmakers to Unite And Surmount Challenges of the Nation

The Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that the 10th National Assembly will walk hand in hand with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to take the ship of state to “harbours of bliss and development.”

He stated this on Saturday at the retreat for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The Vice President was present at the retreat.

Akpabio assured the President and Vice President Kashim Shettima that they would not walk alone. The Senate President said, “Tell Mr. President, that the leadership of the Tenth National Assembly (and by extension the entire National Assembly) says that he will never walk alone.”

He added that the President Tinubu-led executive and the National Assembly have been destined to “give hope to our nation.”

“We believe that this is the government that should come to change the fortunes of our country. We believe that this is the National Assembly that should come to change our destiny.

“We believe that this National Assembly has come to give hope to our nation. There is an Italian proverb that says that the right man comes at the right season.

“We believe we, the members of the National Assembly, have come at the right season.

“As the leaders of the Tenth Assembly, we must remember that the success of a leader depends on the achievements of the led.

“We must not only be worthy leaders but also dealers of hope for the entire membership of the National Assembly in particular and our nation in general.”

He urged the National Assembly’s leadership to unite and align their purpose in offering solutions to the multitude of challenges currently facing the nation.

He added: “Check the history of the world and you will discover that the world has always been changed by a few thoughtful, patriotic, selfless, concerned citizens armed with faith and conviction.

“They led the charge, the masses followed.

“Let us be united in purpose. It does not matter which political party you used to get to the Red or Green Chamber, right now we are in the Nigerian boat.

“If we all put our hands on deck, the Tenth Assembly shall surmount every challenge. It is in our hands to make this Assembly the last hope of the common man or the lost hope of the common man.

“The choice is ours. As leaders let us see every problem through the broad windscreen of national interest; not through the tiny side mirror of politics. Let us be the symphonic voices of reason; not the raucous echoes of tribal or religious sentiments.

“My friends and colleagues, let us not make the mistake of thinking that our problem is APC or PDP or LP or SDP or any other party.

“That is an error.  We face a collective action problem because relevant groups and stakeholders in our country fail to connect, cooperate and collaborate. But if we, the leadership of the Tenth National Assembly, can properly understand and effectively use collective action processes in the official conduct of business, we would achieve positive outcomes for our country.

“As leaders of those who represent our people, it behoves us to set collective action templates for our nation’s developmental efforts and a collaborative legislative agenda for solving our nation’s challenges.

Akpabio added: “I believe our priority, as leaders, should be people. We represent people whose pains we should alleviate; whose concerns we should address; whose hopes we should not betray.

“Therefore, listening to the people in order to feel the pulse of our nation should be a critical component of our legislative agenda. But, no matter the problems we face let us never forget that what is morally wrong cannot be politically right.

“The National Assembly must be seen as partners-in-progress with the Executive Arm and we must create the enabling legal environment for Mr. President to justify the confidence reposed in him and his vice president by the electorate.

“We must remember that in every democracy, the legislators are the foot soldiers marching for the masses.

“We are also here to share experiences, bond with each other and have candid exchanges on critical issues before the National Assembly.

“I urge us to be frank and open because a chain is as strong as its weakest link. More so, the candle does not lose anything by lighting another candle.”