A group, Stayalert Human Right Awareness Initiative, has appealed to newly elected senators to rally behind Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President and Barau Jibrin for the role of Deputy Senate President, emphasising that this move is crucial for the peace and unity of the nation.
During a press conference held in Abuja, yesterday, the executive-director of the group, Ambassador Hilary Onah, stated that Akpabio possesses the necessary experience, competence, and result-oriented approach to bring stability, progress, and unity to the National Assembly and Nigeria as a whole.
Onah stressed that Nigeria is currently in a healing and reconciliation phase, and it is imperative to avoid the influence of ethnic or religious bigots in governance.
Instead, the country needs individuals like Akpabio and Jibrin, who can serve as bridge builders.
He expressed concern about the disunity and violence prevalent in Nigeria, highlighting the nation’s shattered state in economic and political aspects.
Onah pointed out that the erosion of faith in the country’s security, democracy, judiciary, and government is due to corruption and poor leadership.
In light of this, he urged senators to set aside religious and tribal sentiments when selecting their leaders, calling for the election of senators who genuinely care about the nation’s interests and are compassionate, honest, and committed to delivering good governance and democratic dividends to Nigerians.
Regarding economic policies, Onah commended the present government’s decision to remove fuel subsidies, considering it one of the best measures taken by the government.
However, he emphasised the importance of implementing palliative measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people. Additionally, he called upon the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and security agencies to pursue those responsible for exploiting the subsidy regime for personal gain.
