By Eseoghene Emuke
A former governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has congratulated the newly elected Senate President and Deputy, Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila and Mr Ahmed Idris Wase respectively on their emergence as presiding officers of the ninth National Assembly.
Uduaghan expressed strong confidence that the new leadership would help drive the President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term administration towards the agenda of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Nigerians.
The former governor in a statement on Wednesday signed by his media assistant, Mr Monoyo Edon, noted that choice of duo of Lawan and Omo-Agege is good for the needed collaboration between the executive and legislature in the task of the nation’s rebirth under President Buhari.
Uduaghan, who contested for the Delta South senate seat on the platform of the APC in the 2019 general elections, said the new presiding officers have capacity to make laws for the good governance of the country.
According to him, “I wish to congratulate the newly elected presiding officers and members of the National Assembly on their inauguration on Tuesday. I also wish to congratulate leaders and members of the National Working Committee of our party, APC for making the right choice on the leadership of the National Assembly.
“I wholeheartedly wish to congratulate Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege on their emergence as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively as well as Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Hon. Idris Ahmed Wase for emerging Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively. You all sincerely deserve your new offices.”
He explained that Nigeria is in need of a legislature that would partner the executive in solving the multiplicity of challenges ranging from insecurity and unemployment among others which currently confront the country.
The APC chieftain commended President Muhammadu Buhari, National Chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, leaders of the APC and indeed members of the ninth National Assembly for making the right choice.
“While I do not support a rubber-stamp legislature, I am of the firm conviction that the kind of legislature Nigeria currently needs is one that will constructively partner the Executive and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government to confront the nation’s challenges headlong.
“I have no doubt that the current leadership of the National Assembly has the capacity to make laws that will support President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve the APC Next Level agenda for Nigerians. I thank our national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC and other leaders of the party for ensuring seamless emergence of the National Assembly leadership”, Uduaghan added.
Meanwhile, Uduaghan has also congratulated Nigerians on the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day, adding that the development has earned Nigeria respect in the comity of nations.
“This year’s Democracy Day is very significant to our political journey because we are celebrating it on June 12. It was Winston Churchill who said that history is an account of victors. We are all victors today because we are living the true meaning of an important part of our history.
“History will not forget the contributions of M.K.O Abiola and all those who were victims of the day. They paid the price for deepening our democracy. I am sure the world is happy with us as we celebrate today”, the statement added.
