We Will Work Together, Tinubu Tells Senate

President Bola Tinubu has said that nationhood and belief in one country will put Nigeria on the right path.  He therefore pledged to work with the National Assembly to achieve this goal.

Tinubu stated this at a colloquium in honour of Senate President Godswill Akpabio at his 61st birthday celebration yesterday in Abuja.

The theme of the event was “Legislative Agenda for National Development.”

Tinubu described Akpabio as a man who is committed to the values of national development.

He said: “The opportunity you (Akpabio) offered us to listen to the lead speaker and his recommendations will definitely be looked into towards 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.”

The president had high praise for the celebrant.

“I appreciate Godswill Akpabio; God will help you, God will guide you. I believe in the person of Godswill Akpabio; he is truly Godswill. I know him as a governor, as a commissioner in Akwa-Ibom. We share a vision even though he was a commissioner, he is extremely inquisitive.

“He transformed Akwa Ibom tremendously. He built one of the most effective drainage systems in Akwa-Ibom. Today, up until now, no matter how heavy the rain is, you will never find casualties. All the other beautiful things you did, th stadium, the hotel that are caring for the lives of the people of Akwa-Ibom are exceptionally great.”

Then a former president, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), said for the country to tackle insecurity, peace and security must be developed.

“The first question is: how we can find peace. Is it by the 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 Boko Haram, IPOB.”

He 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,” he said.