Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on leaders in the
Niger-Delta region of the country to play their part in ending oil
pipelines bombing by the Niger Delta Militants.
He made this call on Thursday at the first year anniversary of the
8th Senate, stating that the menace of oil sabotage was a serious
challenges that require all hands to be on deck.
He said in his address: “I cannot end this address without a note on
the on-going security challenges we are beginning to witness in the
Niger Delta area of our country.
“We urge the warring militants to embrace our democratic institutions
and channel their grievances through appropriate quarters as we can
ill-afford further damage to the ecosystem of this all important region
and any more disruptions in the system.
“In the same vein, we also encourage government to adopt dialogue and
engagement as a more lasting option towards resolving this challenge.
We also call on the leaders in the area to play their part and ensure
through mediation that this menace is comprehensively quelled.
“The collapse in oil price has, without doubt, brought huge shock to
our economy on a scale that perhaps, has never been experienced before.
This requires us to develop creative strategies that would stimulate
business and investments into other sectors.
“For decades, we have talked about the need to diversify our economy.
But we have failed to take the necessary steps in policy and
legislation that would set us on the path to developing the kind of
economy that we desire.
“For too long, Nigerians have challenged us to justify our presence
in this chamber. Many have wondered what exactly we do here or why we
should be entitled to certain privileges. I believe that the best answer
we can provide to all these is to continue to seek ways that would
enable the ordinary citizen feel the impact of the Senate in their
lives.
“I dream of a day when the poor woman sitting in her house in rural
Awka would be able to see the benefit of our work on her life. I dream
of a day when a child going to school in Gusau would feel the benefit of
the laws that we make.
“I dream of a day when a young lady in Osogbo would be able to say
how the Senate has helped her small business. I dream of a day when a
farmer in Ogoja would see how those of us gathered in this chamber have
helped to improve his life. I am confident that if we continue on the
path that we have walked in the past year, that day will come soon”.
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