Nigeria’s Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah says the National Assembly has thrown its weight behind the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, as he addresses the challenges confronting the nation.
The Senator made the remark in an interview with Journalists after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I’m sure the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives have made it abundantly clear to Nigerians that we will cooperate with the President and Commander-in-Chief on all issues regarding the administration of this great country.
“Our concern is that every responsible citizen of this country has a responsibility to key into this at this trying moment because we all must have a country first, before we begin to talk about our differences or whatever our concerns are that are private. I think we are very clear on this matter.” he said.
The Senator said Nigerians should forget the injustices that happened in the past and forge ahead.
“I think there are certain feelings that, with the greatest respect, cannot be justified in the present situation. You see a society evolves with its own problems, depending on its structure.
“Let me give you an example. The Boko Haram is predominantly in the Northeast, it is not a fact that you can say is not correct. Banditry is in the Northwest, you cannot say it is not correct.
“These are issues that the previous injustices that we have done to ourselves, collectively and individually, are manifesting. It is only unfortunate that they are manifesting now when this government is in place and that is the reason the government, having not been directly responsible for this situation, should be assisted with whatever help from any responsible citizen of this country to ensure that we put this behind us,” he said.
The Senate Deputy Leader stressed that the country will remain united no matter the schemes of those who do not mean well for the country.
He said: “Like I have said before, this country will remain one; because the factors that bring the country together are stronger than the ones that seek to divide it and I think that every responsible Nigerian should understand this.
“Everybody should make sure that he gives his or her own contribution to ensure that we have a very formidable and resilient country, where we can at least love ourselves, do justice to ourselves, and build a society that every citizen of this country will be proud of, and it’s a collective responsibility.”
On recent comments by the opposition that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has no justification to continue in office in 2023, the Senator said:
“They have equally lost every justification to say that we have not done our best in view of the fact that they brought us to where we are, having ruled the country from the beginning of democracy (1999) to where we are today.
“That’s a fact, let’s be honest, let’s be sincere. The most unfortunate thing is that politicians crisscross from PDP to APC and therefore, depending on what side of the divide they are, they find it convenient to run down the party in government.
“But I think that if you look critically at what is happening you will see that the more the thing changes, the more it remains the same. What we need are patriotic Nigerians, with zeal and commitment, to build a viral nation. That is what we need.
“Not politicians who are playing to the gallery, that’s how I see it. I have always said it. How can you call yourself a responsible politician and ride on the platform of lies, to continue to de-market your country to the international community? It makes little sense.”
He assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would soon conclude work on the country’s Electoral Act
He said: “Luckily, I’m a member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters so it must give me the benefit of knowing what is going on. We have finished our public hearing, we have taken inputs, and there are certain things that no matter how you try to be accommodative enough, are practically impossible.
“However, those that guarantee a free and fair electoral process have been taken into account and I am very sure we will give Nigerians an Electoral Act that they will be very proud of.
“Well, of course, that means that every Nigerian has a responsibility to talk to his representatives in the Senate and the House, to accept the fact that he must act patriotically. He must place the nation above his party’s interest in the determination of the provisions of the Electoral Act. Once we do this, we do not have a problem.
“I am not sure there is any responsible Nigerian, who is not interested in an electoral law that gives us the comfort of conducting a free, fair and credible election. People who do not know have often misused these three concepts, they are distinct and distinguishable and they are mutually repellent. It is one thing for an election to be free, it is another thing for it to be fair, and it is another thing for it to be credible. The yardstick for measuring the three concepts are completely different.”