Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Tuesday rebuked his colleagues for fighting for leadership positions instead of fighting for good governance and purposeful leadership.
Saraki made this remark while welcoming his colleagues back to the plenary after a four-week recess which was dictated by a fierce struggle for leadership positions.
Saraki said: “Nigerians did not give us our mandate to come and pursue leadership; their mandate was for us to pursue good governance and bring solutions to their burning issues. It is time we remind ourselves of the solemn promise to deliver to our people real change.
“Leadership is secondary; our primary responsibility is good governance. As senate president, you have given me the responsibility to ensure that our primary responsibility is placed on the table not under the table. Nigerians did not put their lives on the line for politics but for the delivery of good governance.”
He also challenged his colleagues on the need to settle down quickly to the business of legislation, insisting that Nigerians are tired of the crisis in the power sector and want to see a re-invigorated power sector capable of delivering enough energy to power the new Nigerian economy.
“They want to see a new legislative instrument that will help to open and stimulate private sector investment in infrastructure development and enhance the ease of doing business in the country.”
On the activities of the terrorist group, Saraki said: “We have seen resurgence in the activities of Boko Haram and some other criminal elements in our society leading to the death of many of our citizens.
We cannot continue to let senseless groups cause untimely death of our citizens without our hindrance.
“Make no mistake about it, the aim of these militant groups is simple – to test our resolve and disintegrate our unity. But let me reiterate the readiness and willingness of the National Assembly to comprehensively rout Boko Haram. We join Mr. President in saying ‘that we will defeat terrorism in our country and region because we have the will to win this fight.”
Saraki further said he would constitute a high powered Senate delegation to visit the troops on the battle fronts and also empathise with the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North-east to ease their frustrations and as well get sound information on their plights.
Saraki appealed to his colleagues to contribute immensely towards the stability of the eighth Senate.
“Now, it is time to move as one house in one direction to fulfill the promise we made to our constituencies that gave us our mandate to deliver real change,” he added.