Many Political Leaders Have Fallen Below The Bar – Senate President, Lawan

Ahmed Lawan, the President of the Nigerian Senate, has confessed that many of the country’s political leaders have failed to meet the standard.

Lawan made the remarks on Tuesday during the commissioning of a 25-kilometer road between Uyo and Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State. He urged Nigerian leaders to work together, regardless of their political or religious affiliations, to resolve the country’s various problems.

The senate president stated that the difficulties that Nigeria is currently facing necessitate not only purposeful leadership, but also the cooperation of everyone at all levels to address them.

He said, “what is required of us in the country is sincerity and honesty. Many of us the political leaders sometimes fall below the bar, I’m sorry to say that, we have to be as Nigerian as the citizens’ feel; that is the only way we can solve these problems and provide decent and purposeful leadership.

“The people read our lips, they read our body language, time has come for Nigerian leaders to come together irrespective of political persuasions, regardless of religious beliefs to salvage various issues that confront our country.

“I am in a PDP State now, I’m not PDP, but I’m happy to be here; anywhere there is development, we must identify with it.”

Lawan, who commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for the completion of the road project which according to him was in 20%completion when he took it over from his predecessor, Godswill Akpabio, promised to ensure that the sum expended are reimbursed by the federal government.

Reacting on the Ikot Ekpene-Aba abandoned project, Dr Lawan reassured that Senate will investigate the abandoned road Project to ascertain why the contractors abandoned it.

He said the Senate will also ensure that the dualised road is extended up to Aba, in Abia State.

“His Excellency has done so well in the infrastructural development of Akwa Ibom state, though this is a federal road but because he wants the development of people of Ikot Ekpene in particular and Akwa Ibom in general, he put in the resources of the State to do this road. It is very significant when you said you want the Federal government to reimburse you, you are very right,what the Federal government want is partnership from sub nationals. I will join you in requesting or talking to the federal minister for works and housing for refund. That will encourage you to do more even other state governors to do same,” Lawan said.

Speaking earlier, the governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel commended the Senate President for finding time to Commission the road project adding that the road remained critical to his completion agenda.

The governor noted that that particular project has given him joy even as he thanked the youths for the cooperation and peaceful disposition while the project lasted.

“This road may not be economically viable if the Federal government abandon the Calabar-Aba road that had long been awarded and left at the level of earthwork. We believe the Minister of works would reimburse us, to enable us link the entire state with these roads. I thank the senate president for creating time to come for the commissioning of this road which was critical to our completion agenda,” he added.