National
Oneness, Nigeria’s path to greatness -Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said that nationhood and belief in one country would put Nigeria on the right path to greatness.
Speaking at a lecture/colloquium with the theme: “Legislative Agenda for National Development” in honour of the 61st birthday of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio held in Abuja, he described the number three citizen as a man who is committed to the value of national development.
He said: “The opportunity you (Akpabio) offered us to listen to the lead speaker and his recommendations will be definitely looked into a more deeper legislative activities and collaboration with all of us.
“We will work together. While we consider the affairs of this country, the nationhood and the belief in one country will put us on the right path.
“Having you as a partner, I think Abbas as a partner, as the Speaker, is good enough for me to succeed.
“Inshallah, we will succeed. I appreciate Godswill Akpabio, God will help you, God will guide you.”
Earlier, the guest speaker and former President, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), said that for the country to tackle insecurity, peace and security must be developed.
“The first question is how can we find peace. Is it by armed forces. It will be by executive and legislative processes.
“We can’t win, in my opinion, the war by armed forces. So I will suggest to the national assembly to consider the possibility of inviting the ethnic nationalities, the owners of Nigeria.
“The traditional rulers that are being ignored, I believe they have a hand in the constitutional process. If this is done we will achieve peace.
“Together with our traditional rulers who I think are being ignored in the process, we might be able to resolve these Boko Haram, IPOB,” Agbakoba stressed.
He further recommended the unbundling of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which he said “is doing far too much.
“INEC is doing far too much. In the Uwais Report, we recommended creating the electoral offences commission.
“I urge the 10th National Assembly to simply enact the recommendations. The Electoral Act makes a mockery of democracy, so we can correct that by passing all the recommendations of the Uwais panel.”
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau who was also the host of the event said that the colloquium was the culmination of events to mark the 61st birthday of Akpabio.
He described Akpabio as a leader par excellence who was always willing to give his quota to the development of the country.
On his part, Akpabio said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration “is real and this government is a correcting government.
“Our legislative agenda is going to be people-centred,” he said.
He also said that the National Assembly would consider the recommendations spelt out by the guest speaker.
Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas said that Akpabio, throughout his distinguished career, showed valuable assistance, strategic thinking and innovative leadership.
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