▪PDP congratulates, urges resistance to manipulations and pressure
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the newly elected presiding officers of the Ninth National Assembly. He also saluted legislators and their political parties for displaying patriotism and non-partisanship before and during the election.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congratulated the 9th National Assembly for its successful inauguration, acknowledging the newly presiding officers.
Buhari, according to a statement from his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, commended the transparency and fairness of the voting process, adjudging it a plus for the democracy in the country.
He describes the emergence of the new leaders of the legislative branch of government as “a new dawn, different from duplicity and perfidy of the immediate past.”
The President charges the winners to use their exalted positions for the higher interest of the country, her people, and for the growth of democracy.
According to him, “The Executive does not desire a rubber stamp Legislature. While separation of powers is essential, collaboration among all Arms of Government should be the name of the game. Opposition need not be virulent.”
President Buhari notes that, “Stepping into the Next Level, the legislature has a big role to play for the goals of the administration to be achieved,” stressing that, “This is for the ultimate good of the nation.”
The President urges contestants who lost out to be gallant in defeat, and join hands with the victors who should exhibit magnanimity and eschew vindictiveness.
“At the end of the day, we, the people, who elected our representatives at the national level, are the winners,” President Buhari notes.
The PDP also commends all those that made the contest robust for helping to deepen our democratic practice.
The PDP will always stand on the side of decency and utmost respect for the institution of the National Assembly and the values we hold as a people.
The main opposition party charged the federal lawmakers to place the welfare, wishes and aspirations of Nigerians above every other considerations by ensuring a strong and independent legislature that upholds the tenets of democracy and the dictates of our constitution.
The party adds in the statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, “The 9th National Assembly therefore must work hard to save our nation from the prevailing despondency caused by the misrule of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, by effectively applying its statutory legislative instruments to guarantee good governance and fiscal prudence, curb corruption, check the excesses of the executive and protect the rights of Nigerians from incessant violations.
“The PDP reminds the National Assembly members to bear in mind that their allegiance is to the people and the constitution and not to any particular leader or group.
“Our party therefore charges the legislature to work only in the interest of our nation and resist the manipulations and pressure that might come from quarters that seek to undermine our democratic order.
“On our part, the PDP, as a party, will remain truly committed to the welfare of Nigerians. We shall continue to keep our focus on the quest for good governance, national cohesion and economic wellbeing of the people, even as we pursue our collective aspiration for the successful retrieval of our stolen Presidential mandate at the tribunal”.