Aduragbemi Omiyale
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, has charged the National Assembly to continue to cooperate with the executive arm of government, noting that governance is a collective responsibility and not a personal endeavour.
He said this at the retreat for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly last Friday at the Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Mr Shettima said the administration of President Ahmed Tinubu was committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy and maintaining the fraternal bond between the two arms of government.
He described the composition of the federal government as well as the leadership of the National Assembly as historical, unique and a major pathway to Nigeria’s unprecedented development.
“For the first time in our history, all the elected heads of our branches of government are produced by the hallowed halls of the National Assembly.
“For the first time in our history, the heart of the executive branch of our government is serviced by the alumni of the National Assembly. Both the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President are proud alumni of the National Assembly. The Secretary to the Federal Government is one of us.
“We cannot, therefore, afford to go to war. Not because we are going to overlook each other’s transgressions, but because you are going to engage with those who know the gravity of your work and would never take you for granted,” he stated.
Speaking further, he said, “There’s no place in this country where you can find a fraternal bond as enduring as the ones that bind the members of the National Assembly.
“From converging on Abuja to water the dreams, debate the needs, and mitigate the fears of this diverse nation, we have forged friendships that defy the stereotypes of our differences.
“Term after term, election after election, old and new members return and exit, but the burden of managing a diverse nation has ensured that we cannot afford to tread the path of divisions.”
The VP reiterated the need for national cohesion, saying it has become non-negotiable if the country’s potential must be fully harnessed and tapped for the prosperity and generality of all Nigerians.
“You have a President and a Vice President who are one of you and recognize the sacrifices you make. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, with utter certainty, reassured us that we are not in government to go to war with the National Assembly. We are here to collaborate and march towards shared values.
“Governance is a collective responsibility, not a personal endeavour. Our most significant achievements were attained through cooperation and harmony. This is what we seek from you because we are brothers and sisters in pursuit of a country that serves all of us.
“The National Assembly is a complete spectrum of human experience. This is where you will witness eloquent testimonies of your colleagues in defence of reason. This is where you will witness profound debates that will dismantle your age-long assumptions. But, in the end, you will realize we are all bound by our fidelity to the ideals of democracy,” he said.
