By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan has
Senator Lawan, who made this assertion at the thanksgiving/commissioning of the facility on Saturday, explained that the centre has captured the visions of the 9th National Assembly members to give laudable services to their constituents.
Lawan, who described the facility as not just a sports centre but also a place that will assist in education and learning as well because it has both physical and mental fitness components.
The President who lauded Senator Akpan, the initiator of the facility for his vision to build the centre, stated that such would contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
He urged people of the state and Nigerians at large to make good use of the multi-purpose facility to address their needs.
At the legislative front, Senator Lawan described Senator Akpan as one the distinguished, patriotic and purpose driven Senators from Akwa Ibom State who have made the National Assembly proud through their wealth of experiences and contributions to the legislative functions of the Assembly.
He recalled the process that led to the passage of the Production Sharing Contract Bill at the National Assembly, which was solely sponsored by Senator Akpan, saying that it was an indication of the Senator’s love for the people of Akwa Ibom and for the unity and growth of the Country.
His words, “I have been told that this project has taken some years to be in this shape, and it tells us how members of the National Assembly care for our Constituents. This multi-purpose complex is not just only for sports but for education and learning as well because it is a combination of both physical and mental fitness.
“I want to urge you, the people of Akwa Ibom and indeed Nigeria to take advantage of this palatial facility to achieve anything you want to achieve.
“For us in the National Assembly, it is always our Constituents first. This is because we are accountable to them who voted us. Here in Akwa Ibom state, you voted for Senator Akpan and we are very proud him, hence the arrays of very Distinguished Senators across the country here presence today. We believe that the 9th National Assembly has done so much in terms of the legislative interventions.
“..and for your information your Excellency, when the Senate worked on the Bill to amend the Production Charing Contract Law, that was the Bill by the Distinguished Senator Albert Bassey Akpan. So you have sent to the National Assembly someone who is focused, patriotic and who plays the games of ensuring that regardless of which political platforms we are as politicians, that the unity and growth of our Country remain paramount,” he concluded.
In remarks on the occasion, the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel expressed optimism that the multipurpose recreational facility would meet the needs of people of providing alternative to other facilities in the state and Nigeria and described it as good.
Governor Emmanuel, who joined in the prayer to dedicate the facility to God, lauded the vision of Senator Akpan to invest in the centre, describing him as a leader of Akwa Ibom Caucus at the National Assembly who leads by example that the state is proud of.
Earlier in speech, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, had said that the multi-million Naira recreational facility which sits on three hectares of land has among other components,1200-seating capacity hall, basketball court, standard football pitch, medical, restaurant and ICT training centre for training of people on digital proficiency.
Akpan, who a Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, said that his decision to build the facility, which he described as a community-life centre, being one of his numerous development projects in the state, was to give back to the people of Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District for the love shown in his elections into Senate and in line with the need assessment to achieve value.
Highlights of the ceremony including prayers and dedication of facility to God for the benefit of man.
