Saraki: Attempt To Forcefully Remove Me, Darkest Moment In Our Democratic Journey

• Says executive’s desire to control legislature responsible for frequent friction

Former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has described the failed attempt to remove him as President of the eighth senate as the darkest moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

Saraki stated this last week in Uyo in his speech as guest speaker at the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Retreat, Eko hot blog gathered.

The retreat focussed on the relationship between the executive and the legislature, while the former senate president’s address centred on checks and balances in government.

Saraki said the reason for the frequent friction between the executive and the legislature was the former’s predilection for control of the latter. He attributed this to lack of understanding, saying both arms of government are set up for effective governance.

“The numerous court battles based on patently false and untenable allegations were designed to weaken me and bring a manifestly robust Senate to its knees. When the legal route failed, strong-arm tactics were adopted.

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First, they forcefully seized the symbol of the Senate’s authority, the mace. Then, heavily armed DSS operatives invaded the National Assembly.

“Sadly, that must count as one of the darkest moments in our democratic curve. It is an experience that should never be visited in our nation again.

As I have said earlier, the leadership of both arms must display maturity, wisdom, and diplomacy in governance.”

The ex-senate president stated further, “Why do we always have tension between these two arms?

One is the tendency of the chief executives (presidents and governors) to want to dabble into who constitutes the leadership of the legislature.

According to the former senate president, the interplay of these tendencies is more noticeable at the state level, because there is greater affinity and proximity between those who occupy the offices.

He said it would be very surprising if a governor did not know almost every member of the House of Assembly before being elected, whether or not they were from the same party.

This in itself, he said, bred a certain level of familiarity, which might be double-edged, resulting in mutual respect, or mutual distrust.

Saraki added, “Nonetheless, governors have commonly sought to exert control over state legislatures. In this regard, it is apt to recall the struggle by state legislatures to secure financial autonomy.