Former Senate President Bukola Saraki warns that Nigeria’s National Assembly is losing its independence, becoming a shadow of the vibrant institution it should be.
- Saraki says the legislature is under systemic attack from both the executive and judiciary
- Accuses executive of interfering in the Assembly’s leadership and oversight functions
- Urges lawmakers to uphold truth, prioritise national interest over politics
- Warns that ineffective parliaments push citizens toward the streets
- Calls for openness to citizen engagement, even when uncomfortable
Saraki’s remarks tap into a growing public sentiment: Nigeria’s parliament feels increasingly silent in the face of executive power. When oversight becomes a whisper and dissent is mistaken for rebellion, democracy suffers. Saraki’s message isn’t just nostalgia for a past assembly; it’s a call to recalibrate the system before public trust gives way to protest.
If parliament becomes too timid to act, the streets may become louder than the chambers. Is Nigeria prepared for that kind of democracy?
