Ahead of inauguration of 10th National Assembly on Tuesday next week and election of presiding officers in Senate and the House of Representatives, Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has admonished Senators – elect, to consider stability of Nigeria and not that of their pockets.
Shettima made the admonition on Saturday in Abuja in his renarks at the Valedictory session of the 9th Senate.
He said: To my fellow colleagues who will depart from this chamber, I address you not as colleagues left behind but as experienced lawmakers who has become an integral part of my history.
“We have shared many things in common and standing shoulder to shoulder in times of adversity. We have fought relentlessly for the betterment of our dear country.
“To my incoming colleagues, I will leave you with a paradox. The stability of this nation is superior to the stability of our pockets. On Tuesday, let us vote wisely. Let us vote for the Nigerian nation”
Shettima’s appeal became necessary against the backdrop of rumours making the rounds that some aspirants eying positions of the presiding officers of the 10th Senate are going about lobbying Senators – elect with dollars.
It would be recalled that some Senators – elect within the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are not happy with the zoning arrangements made by the National Working Committee (NWC).
Specifically, Senator – elect Abdulaziz Yari from Zamfara West, is in the race for position of Presidency of the 10th Senate despite APC NWC’s endorsement of Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom Northwest) for the position and Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North), as Deputy President of the Senate.
Also present at the well attended valedictory session was the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu who lauded her colleagues for making contributions through legislations to the development of the country as she also stated some of her experience in the red chamber.
“God sustained me for three terms, from 7th Assembly to 9th Assembly. I am still confused myself how I have been able to continue the journey because serving the nation takes a lot of sacrifice,” she said.
Solemnity however enveloped the Senate when the Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, made emotional submissions on his travails, leading to shedding of tears.
Kalu in an emotion laden voice said: “I am not a thief, I have three factories in Ota, I have another three factories in Aba, those who have no meaningful source of wealth are roaming about the streets without any molestation.
“It is a pity that those whom I assisted with my hard earned money or given transport fare are now behind my ordeal, their motive is to kill me, that is Nigeria for you.”
