SENATE: How we fared in two years

On June 9, the Senate rolled out the drums to celebrate its two years in the saddle. It was an occasion full of praises and backslapping. Associate Editor, TAIWO ADISA and AYODELE ADESANMI report the fallouts of the special anniversary session.

Ordinarily, the Senate does not sit on Fridays. Its sitting days, in accordance to the rule books, are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. But in line with its constitutional powers to regulate its own procedure, the lawmakers can call for a sitting on any day of the week in case of emergency or special ceremonies. In line with that, the Senators converged on the chamber on Friday June 9, the second anniversary of the inauguration of the 8th Senate.

Being a special day, the lawmakers lowered the rules by allowing visitors into the chamber. Former presiding officers from the Second Republic, former clerks to the National Assembly, former lawmakers who have crossed to the executive  arm, wives of a number of serving Senators, as well as the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC), all sat in the chamber to celebrate with the Senators.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, who presided over the session, read a speech to commemorate the anniversary. He told his colleagues that the 8th Senate in two years, has recorded landmark achievements,  adding that the lawmakers deserve to celebrate the second anniversary.

He said: “When we started, I knew that the 8th Senate was going to be significantly different and effective. I saw across the aisle, a passionate, energetic and a set of leaders made of sterner stuff, and a desire to make the difference. Though, we inherited a legacy that created in some minds cynicism and despondency, we were undeterred, irrespective of an unending barrage of virulent attacks and unprovoked aggression, the 8th Senate marshed on, together erasing records and setting new ones. Today, the 8th Senate has passed 96 bills and 72 petitions, in just 2 years, eclipsing the highest ever in the history of the National Assembly, a record held by the 5th Senate after passing about 65 bills and 6 petitions within the same period.

“The 8th Senate has led with courage and taken up more hot-button- national and legislative issues and successfully dealt with them. We committed ourselves to greater openness and accountability and many doubted our capacity to do as we preach. But we have led from the frontline on the war against corruption, having passed several corruption-exposing resolutions that have saved our government billions of naira cumulatively. Today, in keeping with our pledge, the National Assembly has opened its line-by-line Itemed budget to the world (a first in the history of the National Assembly).”

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said that though the 8th Senate started on a turbulent note, it had since stabilised. He said that at a point, the two presiding officers were arraigned for forgery of Senate Rule book but thanked his colleagues for standing behind them. We will get the lawmakers speak directly on their tenure:

Senator Ike Ekweremadu:

“You people stood behind us at that material time.  At one point we decided that we will never be distracted. I must say thank you to all of you. To the Senate President, his trial and persecution continued to this day but one day the truth will prevail. During the case on forgery, at one point, we decided that we will never be distracted and insisted that anytime the case is going on we must ensure that we sit and continue with our assignment. I want to thank you Mr Senate President for being a patriotic Nigerian, we have shared many things among each other across party and ethnic divides.

“This Senate started on a very rancorous note but we were able to come together to work towards the Senate that showed leadership and brotherhood, today, we speak with one voice.

“We can only get better as we proceed. My distinguished colleagues, I have to thank our great colleagues for their support and solidarity, for their patriotism as we are going to make case for a bi partisan parliament that shows this country can be united and focussed no matter where we come from and the political party we belong to.”

Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmed Lawan

“Let me say that this is the first time that the legislature has existed for this period in Nigeria and we are grateful to God for allowing that to happen and we are looking forward to longer years. The essence of the special session is to reflect on what we have been able to achieve in the last two years and the Senate President, in his address, has enumerated so much that we have done. I believe we have supported this administration in the area of fighting insurgency and terrorism.

“We have been supportive in the area of fighting corruption by passing many important bills to fight against corruption. We have passed many bills that would revive the economy. We have put in place how cooperation, understanding and partnership between the two arms of government, particularly the National Assembly legislators and the executive, can yield very positive results.

“The executive should work with us to ensure that any policy and programme that we have as legislators has the support of the executive. The ministry of power, works and housing earned some credits but this should go to the legislature for providing the funds and of course the legislation.

“When the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts a free and fair election, INEC takes credit, but I think the legislators deserve credit as well. The legislators are the most misunderstood arm of government. I think we need to do much more to make our citizens understand what we are supposed to do. Sometimes the legislators are judged based on roads that are constructed but that is not our work. What we are supposed to do is what we do here, we legislate and we appropriate to give funds to government to be able to construct roads.

But this is what we are and it is not for someone else to state who we are.”

Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio:

“l agree with the leaders who have earlier spoken that in spite of the teething problems we started with, your leadership has weathered the storm. I can say, with all modesty, that the more challenges you have, the more the leadership would shine. Sometimes l wondered how you do it but we all pray for you. Speaking on a national note, l must thank the PDP senators and also thank the APC colleagues for non-partisan demonstration of leadership; in this chamber, we have never disagreed on tribal, ethnic, religious or party affiliations. We have always been very non-partisan. Some people have asked why have you not showed opposition and l explained to,them that in the last sixteen years of the PDP, there was really no opposition. Though, few of them were making noise,  the then government focussed on national issues and ensured constructive criticism.

“On a very serious note, there are still a lot to be done. Yes, we have come a long way. In two years, we have been able to focus on so many national issues. We mentioned 96 bills, the highest ever done by the Senate in the past. We are very prepared to do more.

“On the PDP side, I congratulate them as we all agreed that everything we can do to make APC government to succeed, we go ahead and do it.

“We must not forget to say that this is the first time that a new innovation is brought into the budgeting process in the country; for the first time, this Senate is introducing a novel idea of holding public hearing to ensure that Nigerians participate in the budgeting process of their country so that we can capture the feeling, yearnings and aspirations of rural communities and the grassroots.”

Senator Barnabas Gemade

“Let me point out that the 8th Senate is unique. When we came, it was misconception and misunderstanding arising from the fact that there was an initial rancorous atmosphere. Today we are a very solid Assembly working together to ensure that we support the executive branch of this government to bring about all the changes that was required to bring to Nigeria.

“Today, we see a unique Senate which is made up of highly experienced members of parliament and very young intelligent and vibrant people who are just coming to the parliament for the first time. Obviously this mix needed to be harmonised properly so that they can function. We have a lot to congratulate ourselves for not only because we have passed so many bills, but because we have been a symbol of progress for this nation.

“I belief the second part of this Assembly will give us the opportunity to consolidate on what we have achieved so far and continue to build harmony and unity among us and impact positively on the executive branch of government .

“In 1999 when we came in, the parliament was very green because there were many years of military administration.  We started to build since 1999 and today, we can confidently say that we have built parliamentary experience to a point we can all be very proud of.”

Senator George Thompson Sekibo George

“If there is anytime to celebrate democracy, today is the day because legislature is the cornerstone of democratic governance, and if we are assessing ourselves, that means we are also assessing the institution on which the democracy is built. The Senate President you are the captain of the ship. You are a good shepherd that is why you refused to be distracted as you are really focused that is why today we are celebrating. I want to thank your father as somebody must have trained you and put you on the path of leadership, otherwise, if you were not trained on the path of leadership you would have fallen by the wayside. Also, if there are no challenges for anybody, there would not have been any promotion, that is why challenges are good for students to learn from. The persecution is very good for the Senate President. I am not saying more would come, but if it comes it would make you stronger. l am a PDP  member but l am assuring you that l would remain in the party and we are standing by the APC government because we are in the same vessel, if there is turbulence all of us would be affected.

The vessel is being led by the captain in the person of the Senate President. We stand by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government because if the government fails, Nigeria fails therefore we must stand by them and encourage them to fulfil all the promises they made to Nigerians.”

Senator George Akume

“The Senate President, you have come as a young man, you have seen and done your duties. Your father did it as the Majority Leader in the Second Republic. Therefore, we never expected you to do less. We are very proud of your achievements. The take-off was turbulent there is no doubt about that but you have done exceedingly well.

“I want to call your attention to irredentist movements in this country which we must end quickly. The Senate must make a statement about all these irredentist movements across the country.”

Senator Shehu Sanni

The country is faced with secessionist agitations all across the nation. This Senate must make a clear statement on this.

Senator Dino Melaye

“I salute the intellectual mobility of the President of the Senate, a man of style that has brought direction to the Senate. Were it not for the Senate President, things would not have been this stable. Many may not appreciate what I am saying because they don’t like your face but that is the truth.

“About two years ago, some of us were in the chamber and some took excursion to International Conference Center (ICC), but today, nobody is anywhere, as we are here as one indivisible Nigerian Senate. This is made possible because Almighty who has been the rock of the eight Senate.

“The truth of the matter is that Bukola Saraki, you have done very well and you are a man of character and l pray almighty God to bless you and bless my sister, your only wife.

“With all our successes enumerated already by my colleagues, it is time for the Nigerian Senate and the Senators to be bold than ever, speak with more confidence than ever in the interest of talakawas, mekunus and the have nots.

“We must as a matter of urgent national importance, hold on to the truth; the persecution we went through in the first half of this four years would not be entertained in the second half.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki

“I thank all those who have contributed and thanks also for the words of encouragement. As regards the issue raised by Senator Shehu Sani issue over the secessionist’s agenda, the 8th Senate must stand clearly and act clearly to defend and ensure that there is one Nigeria and we will not agree to any division of this country. I must commend all of us for the role we played on this issue.

“On the issue of fight against corruption, when we are back for second half, we will put in our own actions to ensure that every agency of government is aware of the issue of transparency and accountability.

“I think we have shown it in the first half in the way we have structured our committees that is why we are not afraid of anybody as we are only ready to defend what is right.

“In this area, I want to appeal to all our committee members we have a role to play so during our oversights we expunge anywhere there is corrupt practices and block all leakages. As we do that, we need to be also bold and be ready to defend what is right and stand by the rule of law and the Constitution.

“I keep on saying that it is the institution that must be strengthened. In two years’ time, we would finish our term, we might come back and we might not come back, it is not about the individual but the institution.”