Help defend democracy, Saraki charges ex-lawmakers
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Nigeria Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on former members of the National Assembly to help defend the nation’s democracy
Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja, made the call when the Chairman, Save Nigeria Group Africa and former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Rt. Hon. Ghali Na’Abba led other members of the group to visit the Senate President.
While commending the initiative of setting up the group and its plan to organize a National Political Summit next year to address some critical challenges in the polity, Saraki stated that it has become imperative not to allow the nation’s democracy to fail.
He charged the group, which comprises mainly of ex-federal legislators to continue to avail the present National Assembly’s leadership with their experience and suggestions towards enacting relevant laws for the benefit of Nigerians.
His words, “I want to commend your initiative for setting up this group on an agenda to consolidate the gains of our democracy rather than taking it for granted. This initiative on your part is truly commendable.
“Our democracy must not fail. We must defend it. We must do our best to ensure that we continue with the best practices. We must defend this institution. We must ensure that the institution gets stronger”.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Na’Abba, stated that the Save Democracy Group Africa was established last year during a turbulent period in the nation’s political history with a “vision to evolve a united, peaceful and democratic Nigeria guided by the principle of equity, fairness and rule of law.”
Towards this end, he said the group would organize its maiden Annual National Political Summit in January as part of efforts to promote enduring democracy, stabilize the polity and promote the enthronement of internal democracy in the existing political parties.
Na’Abba also congratulated the Senate President on the many successes he has achieved so far since his emergence as the President of the 8th Senate.
