Peaceful NASS, panacea for national progress – Saraki

Saraki made the remark on Monday in Abuja in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sanni Onogu.

According to Onigu, Saraki stated this in his speech as Chairman of the 10th year memorial activities in honour of former President of the Senate late Sen. Evan Enwerem in Abuja.

He lauded Enwerem for laying a solid foundation for the National Assembly in 1999, saying that the 8th Senate had benefitted immensely from his legacy of a peaceful and friendly disposition.

Saraki said: “It is a lesson to all of us as leaders, today, that we can all use a dose of the Enwerem example when in the hot seat.

“He worked with those who worked against his emergence as President of the Senate, won their respect and was able to turn many of them into dedicated friends.

“The result of that cooperation and partnership is part of what we are benefitting from today in the 8th Senate which we strive to the best of our ability to emulate.

“Peace in the National Assembly is necessary for the growth of the legislature and for beneficial relationships with other arms of government as well as for national progress.

“Looking back, I think the late Sen. Enwerem would be proud of how far the legislature has come in the Fourth Republic and its contribution to the growth of democracy in Nigeria.

“We are proud of his contribution in laying the right foundation for us. We are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us and the late Sen. Evan Enwerem is notable among them.”

He noted that the book that was launched at the event in honour of Enwerem bore testimony to what he achieved, working across the political divide in 1999.

“We are told that he made it clear, through his words and actions, that he would strive for an inclusive Senate and he worked for peace.

“He collaborated with his colleagues across board, irrespective of party or political antecedents, putting the country’s interest first.

Saraki expressed the hope that Sen. Enwerem’s legacy would live on and his ideas continued to be propagated to serve as a launch pad for the generation of new ideas that would enrich the society.