If Gov. Ikpeazu accepts the call, he may have to contend with the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who is believed to be eyeing a fifth term for the Abia South senatorial zone.
Lawan said; “One of the speakers said the Governor will go to the senate in 2023. I say Amen. It is necessary for me to speak about you here, though we are invited for a function meant to honour our young brother.
“Before you go to the senate, I want this audience to listen to this, it doesn’t matter how we are able to work to get ourselves into the progressive fold. You are already a progressive. You are progressive in action. Your Excellency, the progressive fold is waiting. Your Excellency, I’m not suggesting anything. You are a peaceful and humble man. You are a very firm and fair person. You believe in justice. That’s the ideal of progressives. And therefore to ask is not anyone leaving from somewhere to somewhere. You are already there. You are ours, you are yours.”
“Your Excellency, I want to thank you for the opportunity to be here with you. I listened to your remarks on your relationship with Prince Paul Ikonne. The relationship is a progressive one, blind to differences, especially political persuasions. All of you are alert to one major responsibility to make the lives of Abia people better. And that’s what we need to do everywhere; you are a shining example, a pan Nigerian that believes in coming together with everyone to ensure that the lives of the people are improved.
“Our people look up to us regardless of their political beliefs, all they want is for political leaders to put our heads together to salvage whatever situation that needs to be addressed. You are indeed a great partner; I have great respect for you and we in Abuja will like to work with you more closely. We will have to discuss Nigeria and the people of Nigeria more with His Excellency.
“You have demonstrated your capacity to bring change to the lives of the people of Abia. We are waiting for you to come and contribute to the improvement of the lives of Nigerians at the centre.”
Earlier, the Senate President had bagged a chieftaincy title of ‘Onye Ntukwasi Obi’, (The reliable one), by traditional rulers led by Eze Isaac Ikonne, who is the father of the NALDA Executive Secretary.
Elated on the title, Lawan dedicated the award to his colleagues at the senate and promised to remain committed to doing things that improve the lives of the people.
“I have been conferred with a title of the ‘reliable one’ by our royal fathers. We are students of Muhammadu Buhari School of politics. As our leader, he teaches us to be reliable, dependable and truthful. Prince Paul Ikonne is part of that school. When I was given this title by the royal father of the day of the grand reception, Eze Isaac Ikonne, I felt humbled because as a student, you continue to rise.”
