*Photo:Senator Shehu Buba Umar*
As Nigeria celebrates its 64th Independence Day, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has called on President Bola Tinubu and other leaders at the federal and state levels to do more towards alleviating the sufferings of the masses.
Senator Umar, who represents Bauchi South and Chairman, Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence, made the call in a statement to mark the country’s anniversary in Abuja.
“On the occasion of the 64th anniversary of our dear country Nigeria, I join fellow compatriots in commemorating this momentous day.
“As the Senator representing one of the largest constituencies in the country, I believe that one of the major points to observe is that our country is passing through one of its hardest periods since independence.
“As a true believer in almighty God, I must say that these critical times are a consequence of our collective actions, omissions that combine to question our national resolve, character and collective virtues. .
“This fact is important to stress so that rather than continue in the blame game, leaders and thier subjects across all levels should look into the mirror and understand what actually the issues are and what exactly needs to be done to address them.
“Both conventional and all other humanly visible windows must constantly be mobilised in the journey to national rebirth where the greatest happiness of the greatest number presents a challenge that we all must face head-on.
“Together, we will feel the comfort of the promising tomorrow.
“For Mr President and other leaders at the Federal level, I say that the times calls for sober reflection, continuous engagement and determination to doing more to alleviate the sufferings of the ordinary people,” he said.
According to him, gladly, it’s noteworthy to observe that some of the polices of government may have started yielding fruits but that should only serve as a further motivation for leaders to do more such that the purchasing power of the common man and his access to basic facilities of life is improved.
The lawmaker said over the years, insecurity in its various faces and dimensions has become a recurring issue that has added to the challenges of poverty and deteriorating living conditions of the common man.
“But with prayers, more efforts from all of us and better results from our men and officers in the frontline of the operations to combat these problems, we shall get it right.
“To my party the APC, I commend the efforts by the party at both national and state levels towards fostering genuine reconciliation, rebuilding the party and proffering pragmatic ideas, suggestions and other value addition services that will engender the much needed turnaround in our country.
“I hope and pray that the tempo would be sustained and together with our elected leaders, Nigerians will soon witness a new lease of life,” he said.
He urged everyone, “especially the leaders to soberly reflect, rededicate ourselves to the service of the nation and its great people while relating with the common man in a manner that encourage them to play their part.”
Umar enumerated some of his achievements in the senatorial district.
“Coming back to my constituency of Bauchi South, I give glory to Allah (SWT) for what we have been able to achieve thus far in terms of providing quality representation and one that is able to in some modest ways deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
“Along with other achievements so far recorded, part of the icing on the cake will be the flagging off of some community roads with the first in the series of our plans being the one at Zaranda town which occasion is slated for next weekend in-sha-Allah.
“In the same vien, our efforts towards the completion of the process for the establishment of the Federal Orthopedic Hospital Toro, Custom Training School in Bauchi and other life enhancing interventions for the benefit of our people will continue in full gear.
“The idea is that we spare no effort in making life better for our people whose mandate and the privilege that comes with it made it possible for us to have recorded the successes already attained,” he said.
He said his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as an opposition party in Bauchi State, would continue to constructively engage the PDP-led government, towards ensuring a better life for the people.