The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Benjamin Kalu, expressed gratitude on Saturday to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for supporting the passage of the South East Development Commission Bill through the third reading in the Senate.
Speaking at the Homecoming Reception of the Senate President in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Kalu, who also represented the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, said that the bill when assented to by the President, will heal the wounds orchestrated by the Nigerian civil war.
He said, “We want to thank you for how you supported the South East Development Commission bill. You showed that you are a good leader and good in-law, knowing that the South East over the past five decades has not enjoyed the reconciliation and rehabilitation that they needed post-civil war.
“And you believed, alongside myself, that it was a strategic tool. With that bill, we will give answers to all the hydra-headed questions in the minds of the south-eastern people.
“I thank you for something that has brought a lot of peace to the southeast because there’s hope that the president will assent to it. God bless you, God bless Akwa Ibom people, God bless Nigeria”.
Appreciating Akpabio for also supporting the administration of President Tinubu, Kalu revealed that the leadership style of the Senate President has brought unprecedented synergy between the Senate and the House.
“I want to commend you for the support you’ve given to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your support is genuine and sincere.
“You’ve exemplified the fact that though we are three arms of government, we are one government with one national objective.
“The renewed Hope agenda of the executive, Mr. Senate President, has influenced the legislative agenda of the parliament.
“And you’ve consciously and deliberately ensured that, at all times, necessary support is given to the executive for them to achieve their goal.
Little wonder we have the cohesion that we enjoy in Nigeria between the arms of government.
“In the parliament, you’ve been a stabilising force. In Akwa Ibom, you’ve written your name in gold.
“Many don’t know that if you let loose, there will be a lot of trouble between the two chambers. We’ll speak in different tones.
“Because of your leadership style and partnership spirit, the Senate and the House of Representatives always speak with one voice. Thank you for your leadership.
“We also want to thank you for how you partnered with the House to make sure that the budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria came out early, as expected by the constitution.
“That’s why today both the private and public sectors were able to make economic projections with their plans for nation-building,” Hon. Kalu said.
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