From Abuja Kenneth Udeh
As the Nigerian Senate resumed plenary after its Easter and Eid-el-Fitr recess, which began on March 27, Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has called on the Nigerian Senate to meet the weighty expectations of Nigerians with integrity, unity, and legislative action.
Akpabio made the clarion call on Tuesday , urging his colleagues to execute their legislative duties with renewed moral clarity and a deep sense of national responsibility.
Speaking in the newly automated Red Hollow chamber at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, Akpabio emphasised the symbolic importance of the holy seasons that marked the recess period.
He described Easter and Ramadan as more than religious observances, calling them “moral mirrors and national metaphors” for the sacrifice, patience, and unity Nigeria urgently needs.
“Let those lessons not remain in the churches or mosques we attended,”.
“Let them walk with us into this chamber, speak through our debates, and shine in the quality of the laws we make.”, He said.
Addressing the pressing issues facing the country, Akpabio acknowledged the rising cost of living, instability in the energy sector, and persistent insecurity, especially in the South-East, North-West, and North-Central regions.
The Nation’s Number 3 citizen pointed out that these challenges require immediate and focused legislative support for the efforts already being made by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“Our people look to us, not for rhetoric, but for rescue,” he stated. “But I believe that there is no river we cannot cross if we put our trust in God and faith in the people He has ordained to lead us, ” Akpabio said.
The Senate President also pointed to the ongoing public discourse on electoral and judicial reform, emphasizing the Senate’s role in shaping Nigeria’s democratic future.
He reminded senators that the eyes of Nigerians and the international community are firmly fixed on the National Assembly.
“We are under watch,”,“No test must find us wanting. No challenge must catch us unprepared.”, Akpabio told his colleagues.
Akpabio enumerated a legislative agenda focused on national stability, with upcoming bills targeting security reforms, economic resilience, education, technology, and youth empowerment. He urged his colleagues to approach their duties with patriotism, integrity, and bipartisan commitment.
“Let us elevate debate over division. Let us govern with grace, not grudge,” he said.
In conclusion, he assured Nigerians that their Senate has returned to work with renewed determination.
“We have not forgotten your hopes, your hardships, or your hunger for change,”.
“We are here refreshed in spirit, renewed in resolve—to build a nation where peace is not an illusion, and progress is not a promise, but a pattern.”, Akpabio emphasised.