Former Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki, has congratulated Nigerians and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the 26th anniversary of Democracy Day, while calling for a stronger and more independent legislature as a pillar of democratic sustainability.
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Saraki praised the courage and sacrifices of both the living and departed heroes of democracy who confronted military rule to secure the freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.
Saraki, who was present at the Democracy Day ceremony held at the National Assembly in Abuja, commended President Tinubu for choosing the legislative chamber as the venue to mark the occasion.
“I want to commend President Tinubu for choosing to join the National Assembly here in this chamber to celebrate Democracy Day. This symbolic action speaks volumes. It is an acknowledgment of the fact that, among the three arms of government, the one that best symbolises, represents, and exemplifies democracy is the parliament,” Saraki stated.
Emphasizing the central role of the legislature in sustaining democratic governance, Saraki said the celebration of Democracy Day within the complex of the National Assembly underlines its importance as the bedrock of democracy.
He reflected on past moments in Nigeria’s democratic history, recalling how the National Assembly resisted the truncation of civil rule during the annulled June 12, 1993, election and how it blocked the controversial third-term agenda during the Fifth Assembly.
“In the aborted Third Republic, the same National Assembly, in which President Tinubu served as a member, faced the barrels of guns to resist attempts to derail the transition to civil rule in 1993. Again, during the Fifth Assembly, the National Assembly stood firm and voted down the third-term bill,” he noted.
However, Saraki expressed concern over the weakening of the current National Assembly, stating that it no longer reflects the vibrancy and independence it once symbolized.
“Let me now say that, except we want to deceive ourselves, we must acknowledge that the National Assembly is gradually becoming a shadow of what a virile and effective parliament should be,” he said.
Saraki emphasized the need for reforms and renewed commitment to strengthening the legislature, not just for the present but for future generations.
“We owe it to those who fought for the democracy we now enjoy, and to generations yet unborn, to make the parliamentary institution stronger and more efficient. Sadly, we seem to be drifting backward,” he said.
He further argued that the responsibility does not rest solely on lawmakers but also on the executive and judiciary, which, he said, have played consistent roles in weakening the institution.
“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 concluded.
