Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has heaped praises on the Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki for providing a strong, firm and progressive leadership for the National Assembly.
This happened when Saraki visited the former president a visit at his office complex in Maitama district of the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan also used the opportunity to recall the blockade of the National Assembly by security operatives back in July.
Jonathan said;
“Senate President, let me use this opportunity to commend your leadership abilities. Looking at what is happening in the country, if not for your strong leadership, probably the National Assembly would have been in chaos and if the National Assembly is in tatters, then, of course, democracy is gone.”
According to the former president, the National Assembly was only able to resist the invasion because of the strong leadership provided by the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“I am quite pleased with the kind of relationship you have with the House of Representatives members and how you have been able to hold the National Assembly together because on the day that the parliament was invaded, though the target was the Senate, the House of Representatives members were as active as, if not more active than the Senators and that cannot happen by chance.
Read: United States Soldier Admits to Helping Islamic State
What we know is that if there is an assault on the Senate, then it is also seen as an assault on the House of Representatives. If they (House of Representatives members) don’t believe in you, I don’t think some of them would have taken that kind of risk. That commitment shows that they believe in your leadership.” He said.
Goodluck Jonathan expressed his thanks to the Senate President and members of his entourage for the courtesy visit while he noted that everyone who came to see him had played key roles in his political career and development.
Saraki stated that he had come to pay his respects to the former president and also inform him of his return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He further reiterated that the current realities in the Nigerian Political space made it necessary for people who love Nigeria to work together to return the country to the path of growth, fairness, equity and justice.