9TH NASS: President Buhari says he doesn’t want a rubber stamp legislature

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the newly elected presiding officers of the 9th National Assembly to use their positions for the higher interest of the country and for the growth of democracy.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President stated that he does not desire a rubber stamp legislature.

While commending the election process, he noted that it was a transparent and fair voting process, describing it as a plus for the democracy in the country.

President Buhari described the emergence of the new leaders of the legislative as “a new dawn, different from duplicity and perfidy of the immediate past”.

READ ALSO: ‘Our democracy must not be taken for granted,’ Tinubu speaks on significance of June 12

He said: “The Executive does not desire a rubber stamp Legislature.

“While separation of powers is essential, collaboration among all Arms of Government should be the name of the game. Opposition need not be virulent.

“Stepping into the Next Level, the legislature has a big role to play for the goals of the administration to be achieved. This is for the ultimate good of the nation.”

The President urged contestants who lost out to be gallant in defeat, and join hands with the victors who should exhibit magnanimity and eschew vindictiveness.

“At the end of the day, we, the people, who elected our representatives at the national level, are the winners,” he noted.

Sen. Ahmad Lawan, from Yobe, on Tuesday, emerged new Senate President when he polled 79 votes to defeat his only contender, Sen. Ali Ndume, from Borno, who scored 28 votes.

The House of Representatives also elected Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos), as the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives when he polled 281 votes against Umar Bago, who got 76.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now