.Says if well handled, this can reposition Nigeria

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

ABUJA — DEPUTY Senate President,Ike Ekweremadu, has assured that the National Assembly will give legislative support to the outcome of the National Conference,noting that it will be the wish of Nigerians.

Ekweremadu, who said if well handled by delegates, the conference could reposition the country, appealed to participants to approach it from the point of view of patriots, not just as individuals representing their various states or pressure groups.

He spoke, Monday, at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while on his way to the ground-breaking ceremony for the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The Deputy Senate President reassured that the National Assembly would accord the conference delegates all the legislative support to deliberate and come up with their decisions.

He said:  “Ultimately, their decisions will come to the National Assembly for legislation and I have no doubt that the National Assembly will support the final outcome because it is the wish of Nigerians.

“The National Conference is something that I believe will reposition this country if handled well.

“I want to appeal to participants to approach it from the point of view of patriots, not just as individuals representing their various states, ethnic groups, political parties, or professional bodies.

“They should think as Nigerians and about what we have to do to ensure the stability and progress of the nation and ensure that we bequeath a nation that our children will be proud of.”

Ekweremadu, while commenting on the Second Niger Bridge, lauded the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan at ensuring that the project was completed in record time.

“For me, this is a very cheering news; it is a good music to my ears. Not just to me as a person, but to the people of the South East, Nigeria, and indeed the entire West Africa.

We are excited that at last, this bridge will be constructed.

“We have been working on it. We have been hoping that a day like this would come when there would be true commitment to constructing the Second Niger Bridge.”