Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has said that there is still hope for Nigeria if 36 speakers of all the states’ Assembly can gather together under the aegis of Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies at a time like this, to deliberate on national issues. Ambode stated this when he played host to the visiting speakers at a dinner in Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
According to the governor, “As politicians, we must ensure that the electorate continues to believe and trust in the principles of equity and the rule of law. No arm of government must be a clog in the wheel of progress on the basis of partisan differences and that was why I said that it is very significant that irrespective of our party lines, irrespective of what has happened, we are still here to find a common-ground to discuss national issues that relate to autonomy, that relate to state police and that is the message that we have been sending in the last three and half years.
“The whole essence of us being called politicians is to be able to give service to our people. When we do the road, bridge or the hospital, it does not ask whether you are PDP or APC, neither does it ask whether you are Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba before you can climb on the Third Mainland Bridge.
“So, the whole essence is to ensure that we give back to our people and as I would always say and always agree, there are only two reasons why we are in this business of politics, which are also enshrined in the Constitution – protection of lives and properties and welfare of our people. And so no matter what strategy or path or geographical landscape we use, what is important is that we should be able to achieve those two objectives and I believe strongly that this conference and meeting will focus on those objectives and ensure that we are able to arrive at something very lucrative to our people,” he said.
The speakers were led by the chairman of the conference, Hon. Ismaila Kamba, speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, and the host speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
Speaking earlier, Kamba said the visit was to let the governor know that they are holding the second quarter meeting of the group and it was the first time all the 36 speakers were in attendance.
He said the conference will discuss the implementation of the autonomy for state legislatures which was recently passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
While pleading with Ambode to give a soft landing on the implementation of the autonomy law for state legislatures, Kamba lauded Ambode for the great developmental strides and security infrastructure in the state.
“Everywhere, everybody in the country knows the various constructions, both roads and bridges going on in the state as well as the security infrastructure. We congratulate you and will continue to rally round you because we want to be part of these achievements,” Kamba said.
Host speaker, Obasa, in his remarks told Ambode that the visit was to show “how much we hold you in admiration, to pay respect and intimate you of our presence in Lagos because without your support the conference won’t hold.”
He said the conference which held its plenary a day earlier deliberated on latest developments in Nigeria, the new autonomy bill recently passed into law by the National Assembly and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari and some other national issues.
