My Ambition is not about gaining power, it’s about giving good government to Nigerians’, Tinubu tells Senators
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu made a friendly return to the National Assembly building to meet the APC caucuses in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The visit represented a fond homecoming for the former Senator, lasting several hours as Asiwaju and the assembled legislators enjoyed deliberations on a wide range of issues ranging from the role the legislature as the people’s representatives, to cooperation on addressing the key substantive issues of the day, the future of the APC and how he can work together with the legislators to accelerate Nigeria’s drive toward economic prosperity, security and perfecting our democratic structures.
Asiwaju recalled his own time in the Senate before turning the attention of those present to his conception of the legislature as the essence of representative democracy. Addressing caucus members, he said “The essence of representative democracy is the assemblage of the prudent and the wise to pass just laws for the benefit of the people.
The legislation this body passes shall determine the fate of this nation. By what I have seen of your work and words, I can truly say this nation has been in good hands.”
Asiwaju assured the legislators of his support for their collective efforts and of his appreciation of the need to maintain a harmonious and positive relationship between executive and legislative branches of government. He stressed “The cordial relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive is something to behold. Democracy does not thrive when both arms are adversarial. More gets accomplished through cooperation than conflict.”
He praised the legislators’ recent work in passing several important reform bills, most notably the Electoral Act 2022, and for returning a positive image of the National Assembly to the minds of the Nigerian people.
Asiwaju concluded his remarks by setting out, for the legislators, his vision for Nigeria and the agenda and programmes his administration would pursue if he is elected as president next year.
“This is not about gaining power. It is about securing good government for the nation. Together, the executive and legislative branches of this democratic tree must strive to cultivate and bring forth good fruit for the welfare of the people.” he said.
Asiwaju spoke forthrightly about the legislature’s pivotal role in delivering the kinds of reforms he envisions; building on the strong efforts of President Buhari to secure the lives and property of Nigerians by addressing the menace of banditry and terrorism in the land; broaden the nation’s economic base; and accelerate growth, particularly in the agricultural and manufacturing / industrial sectors to create meaningful employment opportunities for young Nigerians across the country.
As he left, his parting remarks to the cordial legislators were “I have asked you to be my partner, I vow to be yours. In unity, there is nothing that can stop us.”
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