No rift between Nasarawa Speaker, me – Lawmaker

No rift between Nasarawa Speaker and me – Lawmaker

By Awayi Kuje
Relationship
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Sept. 16, 2019 (NAN) A lawmaker, Alhaji Mohammed Okpoku (APC-Udege/Loko) at Nasarawa State House of Assembly says he maintains a cordial relationship with the Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi.
Okpoku stated this on Monday while fielding questions from newsmen in Nasarawa, Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
The lawmaker, who contested for the speakership position before stepping down for Abdullahi, said that he was qualified to vie for the position.
“Of course contesting for the office of speakership is a constitutional mandate and as much as the people of Udege/Loko have agreed that I am qualified.
“I am equally qualified to be a speaker that is obvious but I want to tell you that we have a good relationship with Mr Speaker.
“We have a very cordial relationship. I am in Saudi Arabia for Hajj but to tell you that we are one with Mr Speaker, he said, I am going to be among his entourage for parliamentary trip and we are going together. We went for the trip and we have come back.
“There is no segregation and dichotomy in the House. The House is one and I am assuring you we are operating as one,” he said.
Okpoku said that he would continue to deliver the much needed dividends of democracy through people oriented projects that would impact positively on the lives of his constituents and the state at large.
“I will continue to sensitise, educate and create awareness to my people on the issue of security.
“Security is a major issue in Nigeria as a country. My constituency has the most security challenge among all constituencies in the state.
“That is obvious, issue of robbery, kidnapping but to mention but few. We are partnering with the executive arm of government to provide solutions to the problem in my constituency,” he said.
Okpoku urged the people of his constituency and Nigerians to be security conscious for the overall development of the country.
He also urged Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations. (NAN)
AKW/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola