10th June, 2015
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s reaction to Tuesday’s election of National Assembly leaders as a “great mark of leadership” and a demonstration of the President’s commitment to democracy.
In a statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, the Senate President commended Buhari for remaining steadfast in his commitment to the principle of non-interference in National Assembly politics even in the face of great pressure on him to act otherwise.
“This shows that Mr. President is a man of great conviction who, in his own words, belong to everyone and to no one,” the statement reads.
It would be recalled that on Tuesday Buhari backed the emergence of Saraki despite the All Progressives Congress kicking against it.
Buhari noted that though he would have preferred that the leadership of the National Assembly came through the arrangement put in place by the All Progressives Congress, but would work with the new leaders of the National Assembly guaranteed their emergence conformed with the constitution.
“President Buhari had said in an earlier statement that he did not have any preferred candidate for the Senate and the House of Representatives, and that he was willing to work with whoever the lawmakers elected,” a statement by Femi Adesina, Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity said.
“That sentiment still stands. Though he would have preferred the new leaders to have emerged through the process established by the party,” it added.