Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the 10th National Assembly is becoming a shadow of what parliament should be.

Saraki said the current National Assembly is drifting backwards due to faulty leadership.

He accused other arms of government of playing a key role in weakening the current National Assembly.

Saraki stated this in his remarks to mark Nigeria’s 26 years unbroken democracy at the National Assembly yesterday, June 12.

He said the current crop of legislators owed it a duty to make the parliament stronger for future generations.

According to Saraki: “Let me now say that except we are here to lie to ourselves, we must acknowledge the fact that the National Assembly is gradually becoming a shadow of what a virile and effective parliament should be.

“Today, we seem to be drifting backwards. And we don’t have to go far to find the reason for this sad development.

“I am convinced that this is not only the fault of the legislature and its leadership. The executive and judiciary have consistently played key roles in undermining and weakening the National Assembly.”

Saraki urged leaders to work together towards making the National Assembly a strong institution.

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain said the National Assembly was established to scrutinize the executive.

He cautioned Nigerians against making the National Assembly helpless and hopeless.

“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,” he added.

His remark is coming amid accusations that the 10th assembly is a rubber stamp that has leaned completely towards the Federal government.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, had dismissed this, saying NASS enjoys a cordial relationship with the executive.

Adaramodu said the current NASS will rubber stamp things that are in the interest of Nigerians.

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said President Bola Tinubu and the opposition parties are on the same page.

Saraki was reacting to Tinubu’s remark that he is not for a one-party state.

There have been claims that Tinubu was moving Nigeria towards a party state, following recent defections to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Some of the defectors had blamed the crisis in their various parties for their decision to join the ruling party.

But, Tinubu while addressing the National Assembly yesterday debunked claims that his administration plans to make Nigeria a one-party state.

He, however, stated that he is happy that the opposition parties are in disarray and he won’t help them.

Tinubu said: “To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be as a result of your panic, it rings in error.”

Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Saraki said: “We must take him at his words, he spoke well saying he is not for a one-party state, so we must take him at his words that he supports a multi-party, so we are all on the same page.

“We the PDP buy into this and that is why we are going around bringing everybody and they heard it, so those people saying there is pressure, there is no pressure on anybody.

“We are all for multi-party and everybody should go and get his house in order. As he said, he’s not going to help us, so we are going to sort our own house and get it in order.”

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‎The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has lauded President Bola Tinubu for recognising and honouring Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, requesting him to name the Independent National Electoral Commission Headquarters after him
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‎The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, stated this while reacting to Tinubu’s June 12 speech and conferment of posthumous honours to late Nwosu
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‎Tinubu on Thursday conferred the Commander of the Order of the Niger award on Nwosu. Chukwu described the gesture as a welcome development, saying the Federal Government had done the needful by honouring Nwosu,
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‎”The idea of honouring him is welcomed, though it is late, but at least we appreciate the fact that he has been honoured”
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‎“It is also our desire that INEC Headquarters should be named after Prof Humphrey Nwosu for the virtue of his role in Nigeria’s democracy during the military,”
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‎Chukwu said the request should be granted by FG because Nwosu made a generational sacrifice with real courage by upholding the mandate of Abiola.
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