Saraki’s trials and the future of democracy

Anywhere around the world, the legislature provides the pillars for democratic institution. It’s the most important part of democracy; so it is in the best interest of democracy to protect the institution of the National Assembly. In Nigeria’s own democracy example, it appears the reverse is the case. Political heavyweight in the executive corner of power have been busy deflating the strength of what should be a shield for democratic elements.

Instead of working for democratic institutions, politicians are busy doing otherwise. But we must learn this time that when we do that, we are not ultimately pulling down Bukola Saraki, it is the legislative institution, and the nascent democracy itself. We would come and go, but we must give support to that institution, because that is what represents that people.

The collective will should be to put a strong institution in a place that Nigerians would begin to respect it, and say yes, they are doing things that affect lives, they are above board. If you look at the last two years, when we talk about corruption, unlike before, there is no scandal of any corruption issues in the National Assembly. Maybe something happened and people in the National Assembly were caught doing this or that, no such thing.

These are issues that came into the Senate before, like the management of funds of the National Assembly, or scandal in trying to cover up something or allegations that monies were shared.

These are not things you see in this Senate. We should try to continue like that. It might take time, having a procedure that was opaque, it is not overnight that the system would win the confidence of people. But  Nigerians should be thanked for their patience and understanding, people are beginning to see and appreciate the work of the national assembly, and no matter what you say about the Senate, you might not like them, but look, they are people that get things done. These are people that have the capacity and ability to make things happen. They are there to make things happen, not here to gloss over things, or make sensational issues; they are there to improve the lives of our people and that is what they have evidently been doing.

It does not really matter the level of conspiracy against the figure and personality of President Bukola Saraki, who’s have been quite illustrious to Nigeria’s democratic institution, yet has also been the most persecuted. The new political bait to fall this great Nigerian, like the many others, in the past is deemed to fail, no matter the figures of influence who are involved.

When Senator Bukola Saraki recently raised alarm on the floor of the Senate over a purported plot by the IGP to implicate him using ‘coerced’ cultists, fine citizens know that another political warfare against democracy was up the sleeves of spoilers.

Like the CCT trial, Nigerians know that this is another round of fraud, and are therefore not fooled. Recall that, the other day, the court agreed with the CCT  that on 15 counts of the 18  charges  filed against Dr.  Bukola  Saraki,  it  was proved beyond reasonable doubt that the evidence were based on hearsay that lack probate value. Notably,  it  averred like the  CCT,  that the information used in putting together  the  charges  against  Saraki  by the Federal Government, did not connect  Saraki  with  the  charge s  as demanded by law.

Femi Salako,

Lagos