Embattled Speaker of Kogi House of Assembly, Alhaji Momoh-Jimoh Lawal, on Tuesday appealed to members to sheath their swords and close ranks to move the state forward.

Lawal made the call in his speech during the presentation of the 2016 Budget by Gov. Idris Wada on the floor of the house in Lokoja.

He described the members as elder statesmen and patriots who should not sacrifice the interest of the state on the altar of selfish interests.

“As elder statesmen and patriots, I wish to appeal that we sheath our swords and close ranks to move the state forward.

“As members of one House and one family, we cannot do without having misunderstanding among ourselves.

“What we must always guard against is a situation where we allow rancour and bitterness to linger on and our differences unresolved.

“As trustees and representatives of the people, much is expected of us by the electorate.

“We cannot afford to sacrifice the interest of the state at the altar of personal and selfish interests.

“Rather than bickering here and there and heating up the polity, we should rather unite and work together to ensure that the unity of the state is maintained.”

Lawal said that it was time to unite rather than divide, describing the state as a collective patrimony.

Besides, he enjoined members to guard against being used by external forces to jeopardise the peace and stability of the state.

On the 2016 budget presented by the governor to 10 of the 25-member House, Lawal later told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that members present formed a quorum, adding that the bill would undergo necessary legislative process before passage.

He said that the budget was realistic, adding that all leakages through which the state economy was hitherto plundered would be blocked to make the budget implementable. (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. Wada.

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