Nigeria's Democracy in Danger
ABUJA, Nigeria
Democratic leaders in Nigeria's Senate (the Upper
House), including Senate President, Dr. Abubakar
Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, are
being unfairly targeted by senior members of the
Nigerian Government with politically motivated
allegations in order to undermine the power of the
Nigerian Senate.
House), including Senate President, Dr. Abubakar
Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, are
being unfairly targeted by senior members of the
Nigerian Government with politically motivated
allegations in order to undermine the power of the
Nigerian Senate.
The Nigerian Government Executive is due to lay
unfounded charges of forgery and corruption against
Nigeria's Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola
Saraki, his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the
Clerk of the Nigerian Senate, Ben Efeturi and the
previous Clerk of the Nigerian National Assembly,
Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa.
Senator Sabi Abdullahi, Senator from the Nigerian
ruling party (APC) and official spokesman of the
Senate said, "It is time for the international
community to take note and condemn this
undemocratic behaviour by the Nigerian
Government. This is a time when the Nigerian
people need leadership not petty in-fighting."
Senator Sabi Abdullahi maintains the charges are
entirely false and unfounded. "They are nothing
more than a politically motivated crusade by the
Nigerian Government Executive to remove the
democratically elected leadership in the Nigerian
Senate. The Nigerian Government Executive is
attempting to take democratic power away from the
very people the Nigerian Senate represents."
"I call upon the international community to condemn
the Nigerian Government Executive's continuing
attempts to interfere with the democratic leadership
of the Nigerian Senate. Nigeria's 'War on Corruption'
is fast-becoming a veil to justify attacks on
Nigeria's functioning democracy and this must not
be allowed to stand."
Senator Abdullahi added that there is no evidence to
justify the criminal charges pursued against the
leaders of the Nigerian Senate because the issues
were discussed in the Nigerian upper legislative
Chambers last year and dismissed. "The Nigerian
Government Executive however, is not satisfied,
despite the democratic process that followed in the
election of the Senate leadership."
Senator Abdullahi urges the President of Nigeria,
Muhammadu Buhari to respect the rule of law and
Nigeria's constitutional democracy. "I appeal to all
lovers of democracy to condemn in strong terms,
this latest assault on our democratic institution.
Nigeria's democracy was hard won. It must
therefore not be allowed to fail."
