The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Saturday, tacitly extended an invitation to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lawan, who was in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital at the instance of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, showered encomiums on Emmanuel for being a performing Governor and publicly told him to consider crossing over to APC.
A statement signed by the media adviser to the Senate President, Ola Awoniyi, on Sunday, said both Lawan and Emmanuel “have been friends for quite sometime.”
Recall that Lawan recently extended similar invitation to the Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, when he visited Aba last November and told governor that the progressives were waiting for him.
Both the Senate President and Akwa Ibom State governor were in attendance at a thanksgiving service and commissioning of constituency projects executed by Senator Akpan on Saturday.
Awoniyi said it was an opportunity for Lawan to congratulate the people of Akwa Ibom for being lucky to have Udom 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.
“Your Excellency, even though we do not share a common platform but 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 eulogised the Akwa Ibom North-East Senator, Bassey Albert Akpan, for providing quality representation of his people at the National Assembly.
The Senate President said the projects were indicative of Senator Akpan’s care for his people.
“For us as members of the National Assembly, it’s 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 Senator 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 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 stated.
