Senate President, Bukola Saraki,
has revealed when he would exit as the Senate President of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.
According to him, after “four
years” he will exit as head of the upper legislative chamber, but that the
institution will remain.
Saraki was speaking on the need
to strengthen democratic institutions in a statement issued by Yusuph
Olaniyonu, his media aide, on Tuesday.
He noted that the role of the
legislature in a young democracy like Nigeria was often misconstrued; hence, it
was necessary for the National Assembly to work towards positively influencing
the lives of all Nigerians through its powers of lawmaking, oversight and
advocacy.
“The president of the senate is
just first amongst equals..
“However, what always motivates
me is that drive to leave this institution better than we met it. I always like
to leave a place stronger than I met it, and more capable to deliver on its
constitutional role and functions than how it was before I got there.
“The difference between democracy
and dictatorship is parliament. This is why I tell people that it is not about
who the senate president, the president, or the chief justice of Nigeria is, we
must always work to strengthen all our institutions.
“For example, in four years, I’m
gone. Somebody else will be there, but the institution will always remain. If
you have weak parliament that is not effectively able to champion the needs of
the people, you will have a weak democracy. However, because of myopic interest
at times, some people do not see why we must protect the mandates and integrity
of these institutions.
“When we decided to have a presidential
system of governance, it was based on the fact that there must be checks and
balances. When these safeguards are in place, it strengthens our democracy and
promotes the sort of collaboration across the board that helps us meet the
needs of Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, posters calling
for his recall have flooded Ilorin the Kwara State capital.
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