BY MOYINOLUWA BAMIDELE-LUCAS
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Saturday publicly extended an invitation to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, to shift base politically.
Lawan, who was in Uyo at the instance of his colleague, Bassey Albert Akpan, showered encomiums on Governor Emmanuel for being a performing governor and publicly told him to consider crossing over to their side.
Lawan is of the ruling All Progressive Congress, while Emmanuel is of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, but the duo have been friends.
Recall that Lawan extended a similar invitation to the Abia State Governor when he visited Aba last November and told Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu that the progressives were waiting for him.
Both the Senate President and Akwa Ibom State Governor were in attendance at the thanksgiving service and commissioning of constituency projects executed by Akpan on Saturday.
It was an opportunity for Lawan to congratulate the people of Akwa Ibom for being lucky to have Emmanuel as their governor.
“You have a Governor who is so focused, intelligent, brilliant and anything that will bring development to Akwa Ibom and this country is his concern.
“We are waiting for you to come and work with us, Your Excellency. Oh yes! Why not? We want someone like you. And there is no shame in asking
“
“Your Excellency, even though we do not share a common platform, the truth must be said: You have transformed Akwa Ibom for the best.
“We are waiting for you to come and work with us, Your Excellency. Oh yes! Why not? We want someone like you. And there is no shame in asking.
“We are asking for the development, unity, progress and growth of our country. It doesn’t matter who that person is.
“And when you see something that is so good, you say something that is also good. And we have seen someone that is so good, so brilliant and we are saying that is a very good addition to the leadership quest for Nigeria,” Lawan said.
The projects that were commissioned on Saturday included Ifa Ikot Akpan road, Uyo and Senator OBA Multipurpose Recreational Complex in Uyo.
Lawan eulogized the Akwa Ibom North East Senator, Bassey Albert Akpan, for providing quality representation for his people at the National Assembly.
The Senate President said the projects were indicative of Akpan’s care for his people.
“For us as members of the National Assembly, it is always our people first, our constituents first, our Senatorial District first.
“This is because we believe that we are accountable to our Senatorial District. We are accountable to our people. We cannot do without our people. They voted for us. All the three Senators from Akwa Ibom are distinguished people,” Lawan said.
The Senate President said Akpan who is of the PDP never allowed his political affiliation to affect his patriotic contributions at the Senate.
“Today we are celebrating one individual who we do not share a common platform with when it comes to politics but we share a common vision.
“We believe that this Ninth National Assembly particularly the Senate has done so much work in terms of legislative interventions and for your information, Your Excellency, when the Senate worked on the bill to amend the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act, that bill was by Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert Akpan.
“You have sent someone to the National Assembly who is focused, who is patriotic, who plays the game of ensuring that regardless of who we are as politicians, regardless of our dispositions politically, regardless of our political parties, we have been working with Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert Akpan very assiduously and cooperatively. In this Senator, you have a salvation of some of your promises,” Lawan said.
