By Ahmed Akanbi
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, said peace is “the first infrastructure of development,” declaring that no amount of roads or budgets can yield results in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
Speaking as the Senate resumed plenary after recess, Akpabio told lawmakers that every appropriation for security and every law protecting lives must be treated as an investment in Nigeria’s future.
“Roads cannot flourish where fear governs the highways. Investors cannot build where kidnappers build camps. Farmers cannot feed a nation while fleeing their farms. Children cannot prepare for tomorrow when they are afraid to attend school today,” he said.
The Senate President lamented that while democracy continued during the break with primaries and political activities across the country, the nation’s security challenges “did not go into recess.”
He drew particular attention to the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Ondo State and other Nigerians still held by terrorists.
“To their families, we send more than sympathy; we send solidarity… For as long as one Nigerian remains in captivity, all Nigerians share in that captivity,” Akpabio stated.
He reaffirmed the Senate’s confidence in the Armed Forces, Police and intelligence agencies, and urged them to sustain operations “until every captive returns home and every criminal is brought to justice.”
Akpabio said the 10th Senate must respond with laws and oversight that match the urgency of the moment. He charged senators to legislate with wisdom and act with courage to stimulate enterprise, protect the vulnerable, strengthen education and healthcare, and expand opportunities for young people.
“Great legislatures are not remembered because they met according to schedule; they are remembered because they rose above schedules whenever the nation demanded it. Patriotism chooses duty over personal convenience,” he added.
The Senate President also cautioned that democracy endures only when the nation is placed above personal ambition. Citing recent primaries, he said the real triumph was the triumph of constitutional order.
“History teaches that nations rarely collapse because they hold elections, but because they refuse to respect them. Democracy endures when the nation is valued above victory and ambition bows to the Constitution,” he said.
Quoting Cicero, Akpabio said the welfare of the people must be the highest law and must guide every committee meeting, oversight visit and vote in the Chamber.
“If we remain faithful to that constitutional command, this legislative season will be remembered as a season of higher purpose. A season when patriots united under one flag,” he said.
He closed with prayers for wisdom for lawmakers, comfort for grieving families, and the safe return of all Nigerians still in captivity.