By Christiana Ekpa
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas on Tuesday said “When people are hungry and despondent, what is needed is a leadership with a clear vision”, just as he stressed that Nigerians are in need of a committed and capacity leaders to tackle the challenges.
The Speaker equally asked the members of the National Assembly to intensify effort in addressing security challenges currently faced in the country, adding that, despite numerous successes recorded by security forces, security still remains a huge concern in the country.
Abbas disclosed these while reading his opening remark at the resumption of the House after it’s the House recess in Abuja.
According to Abbas, the country is also challenged on several economic fronts ranging from cost of living crisis occasioned by high cost of energy, cost of food which is skyrocketing daily, lack of livable wages, the negative effects of the unpredictable and fluctuating foreign exchange rates among others.
He said “Honourable Colleagues, our economic challenges remain as daunting as they were before the recess. The country is challenged on several economic fronts: cost of living crisis occasioned by high cost of energy, cost of food is skyrocketing daily, lack of livable wages, the negative effects of the unpredictable and fluctuating foreign exchange rates, a disappearing middle class and a host of other issues.
“When people are hungry and despondent, what is needed is a leadership with a clear vision, a leadership that on daily basis, demonstrates its commitment and capacity to tackle the challenges at hand; a leadership that should be innovative in proffering short and long term solutions. That is what Nigerians need at this time and as Representatives of the people, we must rise up to the occasion.
“I need not remind you of the enormous challenges confronting our nation at this time. They are challenges that will engage our attention in the coming days and months. National Security remains precarious even in the face of numerous successes recorded by our gallant security personnel.
” Only a few days ago, the nation was rocked by the gruesome murder of a joint team of security personnel in Ehime Mbano of Imo State. A similar sad incident happened in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State when scores of soldiers were ambushed and gruesomely murdered by terrorists.
” Sadly, some female students of the Federal University, Gusau were abducted by terrorists while there were reports of travelers being kidnapped along the Opi-Enugu Road. 16. Furthermore, Superintendent Okpolonwo Agbashim, Divisional Police Officer in Ahoada Local Government Area of Rivers State was brutally murdered by deadly cultists.
” In Zaria, Kaduna State, the Central Mosque collapsed, resulting in fatalities while residents of Trade More Estate in Abuja suffered extensive losses owing to a devastating perennial flood. There was equally distressing reports of attacks in communities in Plateau State. These are just a few examples of what happened as I believe some of you may have one experience or the other.”
