By Nuel Suji
The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki Tuesday reminded lawmakers that they were not in the red chamber to fight for leadership positions, but to pursue good governance and purposeful leadership.
Saraki made this known in his welcome address to his colleague at the resumption of plenary after the long recess which was punctuated with several leadership accusations and counter accusations.
Saraki stated, “Nigerians did not give us our mandate to come and pursue leadership; their mandate was for us to pursue good governance and bring solutions to their burning issues. It is time we remind ourselves of the solemn promise to deliver to our people real change.
“Leadership is secondary; our primary responsibility is good governance. As senate president you have given me responsibility to ensure that our primary responsibility is placed on the table not under the table. Nigerians did not put their lives on the line for politics but for the delivery of good governance.”
Saraki also challenged his colleague on the need to settle down quickly to the business of legislation insisting that Nigerians are tired of the inadequacies in the power sector and want to see a reinvigorated power sector capable of delivering enough energy to power the new Nigerian economy.
“They want to see a new legislative instrument that will help to open and stimulate private sector investment in infrastructure development, and enhance the ease of doing business in the country.”
On the evils and the reinvigorated activities of the terrorist group, Saraki said, “We have seen resurgence in the activities of Boko Haram and some other criminal elements in our society leading to the death of many of our citizens. We cannot continue to let senseless groups cause untimely death to our citizens without our hindrance.
“Make no mistake about it, the aim of these militant groups is simple, to test our resolve and disintegrate our unity. But let me reiterate the readiness and willingness of the National Assembly to comprehensively rout Boko Haram. We join Mr. President in saying, ‘that we will defeat terrorism in our country and region, because we have the will to win this fight.”
He said that he will constitute a high powered Senate delegation to visit the troops on the battle line and also empathize with the internally displaced persons in the North East to ease their frustrations and as well get firsthand information on their challenges, sufferings and plight.
The senate president also told his colleagues that while they were on recess some government agencies like ICPC, NBA, NLC, CBN, the IOCS and FIRS briefed the Senate president on the state of nation.
Saraki appealed with his colleague to contribute towards the stability of the 8th Assembly. “Now it is time to move as one house in one direction to fulfill the promise we made to our constituencies that gave us our mandate to deliver real change.”
