By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
The senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, David Umaru has explained that the vote of confidence passed on the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Sarkin, last week, was a clear demonstration of the determination of the National Assembly to exert its constitutional role as an independent arm of government that “will not act as a rubber stamp.”
Umaru stated this yesterday in Minna in a chat with journalists on the imperatives of the vote of confidence motion which he moved last week.
He explained that the senators were empowered to elect their leaders from among themselves by Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution and Orders II and VI of the Standing Orders of the Senate.
He added that “the law did not say that senators should elect leaders for a President or a party.”
He said: “Besides, this President had maintained a principled stand of none interference and prepared to work with anyone who would emerge as Leader in the National Assembly.
“The recently concluded election of the National Assembly leaders was purely based on the wisdom and sentiments of the lawmakers to elect from among themselves who they want. It is surprising that those people who wanted to dictate how we elect our leaders are still pulling the strings because they do not want to see some faces as leaders. It will be better for us to quickly come to terms with the realities on ground at the National Assembly and direct our attention and energy on how to work with this President to provide much desired dividends of democracy to our people.”
According to him, the National Assembly was ready to exert its autonomy as an independent organ of government, and that “we are ready to make laws for good governance and development of the country.”