A former Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Thursday, June 12, said that the National Assembly is gradually becoming a shadow of itself.
Saraki stated that the National Assembly seems to have lost the vibrancy and the effectiveness every parliament is expected to have.
In a statement released in commemoration of Nigeria’s 26th Democratic Day celebration, Saraki said there is a need to ensure the parliament as an institution becomes stronger and more efficient.
He further stated that the National Assembly has continued to drift backwards despite the sacrifices made by previous leaders.
While noting that the sad development is not the fault of the legislature and its leadership alone, Saraki said the judiciary and the executive have consistently played key roles in undermining and weakening the National Assembly.
He also said that over time, the National Assembly and its leadership have misunderstood its oversight role.
Saraki appealed to the serving lawmakers to commit to making the institution a strong and vibrant one devoid of partisan or personal interest.
“One of the tenets of democracy is the multiplicity of opinions, freely expressed. If the National Assembly is made helpless and hopeless to the extent that the people cannot find succour there, then they will be left with no option but to run to the streets. And this is dangerous for our democracy,” Saraki stated.
