Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan has unfolded his plans for the Senate, the National Assembly and Nigeria in general in what he termed “A Senate and National Assembly that works for Nigeria”.
Senator Lawan disclosed this while kicking off his campaign for the number three position in Lagos on Sunday while chatting with journalists.
Speaking, Lawan said that Nigeria needs “a National Assembly that will look at Nigeria as its constituency”.
According to him, “we want a Senate and a National Assembly that will maintain cordiality, synergy and cooperation with other arms of government.”
The Senate Leader said the ninth Senate should assist the country by working with President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve his agenda as it concerns security, economy, job creation and anti-corruption war.
Lawan said: “I have been in the National Assembly for almost 20 years.
“I have served in the House of Representatives for eight years and the Senate for 12 years, I thank God and my people for renewing my mandate.
“I am a progressive. I was an APP and later, ANPP House of Representatives member and I am now in the APC.
“I believe in the progressive politics, in ensuring that ordinary people – the masses – get support and opportunities to actualise their potentials and dreams.
“We should support entrepreneurship and business to grow and thrive for employment to boom.”
On his campaign slogan “A Senate and a National Assembly that works for Nigeria,’ he said:
“We need a National Assembly that will look at Nigeria as its constituency. We want a Senate and a National Assembly that will maintain cordiality, synergy and cooperation with other arms of government.”
On his plans for the welfare of Nigerians, Lawan said:
“You can’t sleep with two eyes closed, if the wealth does not go round, if there is poverty, if the children of the poor cannot go to school.”
Preaching tolerance among the three organs of government, Lawan said that the relationship should be characterised by cooperation, collaboration, partnership and synergy:
“We may disagree. Our perspective may differ. We don’t go to the market square to settle our differences.
“We should be able to meet and discuss issues and make compromise in the national interest.
“That is the way to grow democracy. We may disagree, but the disagreement should not escalate.”
On his part, the chairman of Lawan Campaign Organisation, Senator Abdullahi expressed optimism that Lawan is eminently qualified for the position, being what he termed “a household name in Nigeria”.
Abdullahi said: “We want to have a Senate that will work with Nigerian people. That is our agenda. Senator Ahmed Lawan is known throughout Nigeria. We think Nigeria deserves Lawan as Senate President.”
The Senate Leader was accompanied to the Lagos news conference by his campaign manager, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West), former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin, Senators-elect Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra), Bayo Osinowo (Lagos East), Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), Prince Dayo Adeyeye (Ekiti South), Lekan Mustapha, Adeleke Oriolowo and Senator Aliemekena (Edo North).
Lawan is from Yobe State in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.
He had shown interest in the Senate presidency in 2015 but was outwitted by Dr. Bukola Saraki and his supporters.
Other aspirants from the region interested in the number three man job are Senator Danjuma Goje and Senator Ali Ndume.