Nigeria’s Sevent Senate urged to sustain democratic values

“I am happy to note that in the past four years, an unprecedented number of bills and motions have been considered and passed. This, to me, is a remarkable improvement.” Senator David Mark

Nigeria’s Seventh Senate urged to sustain democratic values
Williams Osewezina, Lagos

The President of the Sixth Nigerian Senate has urged the Seventh Senate to ensure sustenance of the nation's democratic value and do better to match the high expectations of the good people of Nigeria.

At the Senates valedictory session to round off the Sixth Senate in Abuja on Thursday, Senate President David Mark commended the Sixth Senate for remaining committed to the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

Delivering proper legislation

He noted that the Senate had so far maintained an open door policy, realising that it was its collective responsibility to protect the legislature and make it the pride of all.

“We rose to our collective mandate to demonstrate patriotism and nationalism in legislating for good governance and improving the living standards of our people.

In his words: “When we started the 4th Republic in 1999 and experienced so many legislative hiccups, little did we know that by the end of 12 years, the people of Nigeria would give us the kind of support that we have enjoyed particularly in the last four years.

“There is no doubt that since then, the senate has become more stable, cohesive, independent and assertive.

“I am happy to note that in the past four years, an unprecedented number of bills and motions have been considered and passed. This, to me, is a remarkable improvement.”

Mark said the outgoing senate maintained a cordial relationship with the executive arm of government based on the tenets of interdependence and partnership.

He said the Senate never competed but cooperated and synergised for good governance to grow the economy and strengthen social order for the nation.

“The result of the cooperation has been the proper and smooth passage of the  2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 budgets,”  he said.

He said the senate conscientiously and dutifully carried out its oversight functions to ensure the implementation of government policies.
 
‘Challenge for the Seventh National Assembly’

Senator Mark said that the achievements of the senate, as highlighted above, was a big challenge to the incoming Seventh National Assembly, particularly the Seventh Senate.

He expressed hope that the Seventh Senate will do better in view of the experiences garnered over the years.

Contributing, Sen. Smart Adeyemi advocated the creation of more states to ensure availability of more jobs and speedy economic growth.

Sen. Ayogu Eze, in his remarks, regretted the godfather factor in the nation’s politics, saying this hindered the return of many senators.

The Seventh Senate
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party has 64.71 percent representation in the  Seventh Senate, while the Action congress of Nigeria has 16.47 percent.

Other political parties have 18.82 percent representation.

Seventh Senate leadership

One of the coordinators of the David Mark Campaign Organisation, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, said that 91 senators have endorsed Mark as President of the Seventh Senate to be inaugurated on Monday.

Adeyemi, who is the spokesman of the group, told reporters on Thursday that the senators also endorsed Ike Ekweremadu as deputy.

“We are representing all the geo-political zones and as we speak, we only have one candidate for the position of Senate President.

“On Monday, 91 of us will queue behind Mark and vote him and Ekweremadu,’’ he said.

Earlier, 16 of the 18 Senators from the North-East had earlier endorsed the two candidates.

Their spokesman, Maina Lawan, said they were impressed with their leadership style which had “brought cohesion and stability to the upper chamber.

The Sixth Senate, inaugurated on June 5, 2007, came to an end on Thursday.

Additional information from NAN