President of the Nigerian Senate Ahmad Lawan, has called on Nigerian politicians to build consensus among themselves to be selfless and work only in the interest of the country.
Senator Lawan made the call at a reception organised in his honour in Abuja by former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, to mark the 63rd birthday of the Senate President.
Addressing the gathering, the President of the Senate said the kind of consensus he wants should centre on fundamental issues about the country below which none of them should go irrespective of their political affinities.
“You can’t be anything unless there is a country”. So we must build and sustain consensus on certain fundamental issues about our country. Irreducible minimum below which nobody should go whether you’re APC, PDP, APGA or whatever you call yourselves because that will infringe on the very fabric of our country.”
According to Senator Lawan, most successful countries have largely achieved this kind of consensus; pointing out that once voted into office there should be limits to what politicians can capitalise on for political gains.
He said the Senate under his watch was able to achieve its set target simply because of its consensus to work for the country.
“We believe this country can only be better if politicians decide to do the right things”.
Drawing comparison with previous assemblies, Senator Lawan noted that the 9th Assembly was able to break many jinxes because of its consensus to work in harmony with the executive arm of government and avoid unnecessary bickering that will leave ordinary Nigerian citizens at the receiving end of bad leadership.
Economic and political stability
Senator Lawan added that those who have been around long enough can tell the difference in the stability the 9th Assembly is able to bring to the economy as well as the body polity.
Earlier, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari who delivered the goodwill message of the President to Lawan commended the leadership qualities of the President of the Senate.
He welcomed the cordial relations between the legislature and the executive; emphasizing that the doctrine of “Separation of Power” does not mean that the legislature must constantly be in conflict with the executive arm of government.
Dominica Nwabufo
