The Federal Government is ready to partner Enugu State government in the economic prosperity of the nation and in the protection of lives and property.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, stated this when he and the Federal Government paid courtesy visit to Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah at the Government House, Enugu, on Friday.
Akpabio who is in Enugu State is leading a delegation comprising the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu; Special Adviser to the President on Security, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, among a host of other lawmakers, federal functionaries, and party leaders, to the funeral of Lady Jane Nnamani, wife of the former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani on Saturday.
He stressed that election was over and it was time for governance, which called for cooperation across party lines.
“It is customary that coming to a place like this, we should pay you respect and to assure you that the government, which sent us to console Senator Ken Nnamani and the good people of Enugu State, would require your cooperation and the cooperation of all the stakeholders and practitioners of governance in Nigeria, irrespective of political parties, in order to the develop the country.
“In the renewed hope of the administration, we want to work with you. We believe that time for election has passed and now is time for governance. The president’s interest is to work with all the states in Nigeria, and we can focus on the two most important issues: revitalising the economy, and securing the lives and property of our people.”
In his response, Governor Mbah assured the Federal Government delegation of the readiness of his administration and the people of Enugu to collaborate with the government at the centre for the good of the state and the nation.
“We are hoping that the partnership and the collaboration you made reference to is one that we are going to grab.
“When we addressed our people, we expressed humungous vision; vision that was anchored on collaboration and partnership. That was why I spared no time in going to have a meeting with the President to get his buy-in into the vision we expressed to our people. We also talked about the security of lives and property.”
He commended the Federal Government for its readiness to work with all stakeholders across party divides to move the nation forward.
Akpabio Lauds Katsina Senator
The Senate President, Senator Akpabio, on Thursday, described the Senator representing the people of Katsina South Senatorial District, Senator Muntari Dandutse, as a man of integrity whose words are his bond.
Akpabio speaking at a Dinner get-together organised by Dandutse to celebrate his emergence and Senator Jibrin Barau as the President and Deputy President of the10th Senate respectively and the inauguration of his colleagues.
According to him, “all the people seated here are the brothers and sisters of Senator Dandutse. You have a gem in your political lives in Katsina State. He is a man of integrity worthy of trust, a brother indeed whose words are his bond.
“When we were struggling to form the Stability Group, Katsina State was one of the two states that we had no issues and that was because of the dedication and support we received from the political actors.”
Speaking further, he noted that “the 10th Senate is very proud of you. We will benefit a lot from your wealth of experience, integrity, wisdom and brotherliness.
‘‘I can tell you that as the President of the 10th Senate, I have the confidence that indeed, I have people I can work with. You have, by your actions and forthrightness endeared yourself to me because you never disappointed me.”
