Senators Hail Bukola Saraki’s Emergence.. Call For Understanding

by Nwokoma Messiah

Members of the 8^th National Assembly have continued to hail the emergence of Sen. Bukola Saraki  as the Senate President. Some members of the red cchamber  who spoke with Parliamentary Info said Saraki’s emergence was the best thing that could have happened to the 8^th National Assembly.

Sen.Rufiu Ibrahim APC Kwara South says Bukola Saraki’s emergence shows that democracy is working in Nigeria. He says the fact that  Bukola travelled round the country to consult with stakeholders on the need to support his aspiration ave him the lead above his rivals who hinged their hope on the party and not the members. He says such consultations worked in his favour on the day of inauguration. Sen. Rufui Ibrahim says he has confidence that Saraki will carry every member along. He says as a detrabalised Nigerian, he believes that Saraki will not be a sectional leader.”I have known Sen. Saraki for long and strongly hold the view that he will ensure that the ideals of the APC will be well projected during his Senate presidency while the members will be bonded despite the uproar that greeted his election” he posited.

Another member of the red chamber Sen. Philip Gyunka Nasarawa South says the emergence of Saraki is an act of God and the display of legislative independence which must be respected by all. He said members must ensure that they give their support to the Senate President and avoid distracting him from performing his duty as Sentae president. He advised the leadership of the Senate to douse the tension created through their emergence by ensuring that unity prevails not only in the senate but in the country at large.

Another member of the red chamber Senator Ogba Joseph says the emergence of Senator Saraki shows that the 8^th National Assembly has come off age and has asserted their independence as an institution in our democracy. Sen. Ogba a PDP Senator from Ebonyi State says he believes that Saraki has the capacity to make a difference in the Senate. Senator Ogba thanked Nigerians for the support they have given to Senator Saraki so far and urged them to pray that he succeeds in office. He countered critics who have made calls for the Deputy Senate President Sen. Ike Ekweremadu to resign stressing that this is not the first time a legislator from a minority party will be heading an arm of the National Assembly. He recalled the case of late Nnamdi Azikiwe who despite coming from a minority party in the parliament, headed the Senate through an alliance between his party and the then ruling Northern People’s Congress NPC. He said Hon. Umezuruike who was not a member of the ruling National Party of Nigeria NPN was Speaker of the House in the second republic based. The newly elected Senator who says he will be focusing on human development as an aspect of his legislative interest says Nigeria can become great with better legislative input by members.