By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Worried about the challenges confronting the well being of Nigerians, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan has called on government at all levels to come together to address the problems and save the country from collapse.
Senator Lawan made this call while commissioning a-25 kilometre Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road in Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday.
The Senate President said that to address these challenges, all tiers of government must show honesty and sincerity in leadership devoid of political parties or religious affiliations.
“Let me take this opportunity to say this; In Nigeria, we are going through some challenges. The purpose of any leadership at any level is to provide leadership by dealing with challenges, and the kind of challenges we are face in this country today are the kinds that required all hands to be on deck. We need not only as federal in dealing with security challenges, we need both national, the state and even the local government. When we hold our hands together, we can surmount any challenges in this country.
“What is required of us is honesty and sincerity in our relationship. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you are. We have to be as Nigerians that is the only way we can provide decent leadership to our people,” Senator Lawan stressed.
On the 25Km dualized Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road he commissioned in Akwa Ibom, the Senate President commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for completing the road.
The road which links Akwa Ibom with Abia State was initiated by the immediate past administration of Godswill Akpabio as noted by the Senate President, was inherited at 20 per cent completion stage.
Sen. Lawan pledged to partner the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure refund of the amount expended by the Akwa Ibom State Government on construction of the road.
He also commended Governor Emmanuel for what he described as “his unwavering belief in the unity, peace, development and progress of Nigeria, and for remaining a model in his approach to governance.”
Responding to Governor Udom Emmanuel’s request for the extension of Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road to Aba in Abia State, the Senate President promised to investigate why the project was abandoned and to partner the state in advocating for such extension.
“You are right in all the actions you take. When this road was left at 20 per cent completion, you took it over, that explains how much you love your people; You are pan Nigeria, reasonable and purposeful.
“You have been very progressive. You are showing us how to develop our country. Though a federal road but you decided to complete it for your people. You have demonstrated to Nigerians that business of development must be on all tiers of government. What the Federal Government needs is partnership, coorperation and development together.
“You deserves refund and I will join you in talking to the Minister of Works and Housing to facilitate refund. Let me use this opportunity to encurage other state governors to imitate Akwa Ibom. Let me also commend other states who have done same. I will join the advocacy for extension of this road Uyo Aba.
He said the federal government has committed huge resources in infrastructural development.
Speaking earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel had declared that the 25 kilometres Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road was constructed with state’s resources that would have been channelled to the development of other sectors of the state’s economy, and therefore appealed to the federal government to ensure prompt refunds to the state.
