Former Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has stated that Bukola Saraki was an effective Senate President, despite the strained relationship between him and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking during an appearance on TVC on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed noted that the 8th Senate, under Bukola Saraki leadership, performed well even though there was little personal rapport between the two leaders.
Baba-Ahmed, who also served as Chief of Staff to Bukola Saraki, emphasized that the Senate remained productive despite the political tensions of the time.
He said: “In spite of difficulties, mature politicians can place service above politics. By the time I became Chief of Staff to Saraki, he was already being prosecuted by the EFCC almost on a weekly basis.
“As a leader of the National Assembly, he was actually a very good Senate President and I think that his leadership was amazing .
“The eighth Senate was the best Senate and productive Senate. He has been a governor for eight years and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and I think he was well prepared for that.
“He was a good Senate President and the eighth Senate did a good amount of work, in spite of the huge tension that existed between Saraki and Buhari.
“Buhari respected the National Assembly enough, he worked with Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate but they didn’t get along personally.
“The relationship between the Vice President and the President are very minor issues, all of these debates about constitutional amendment, you have to go back to the basis, do we need a presidential system of government?
“On what basis did we choose the presidential system of government? What are its drawbacks? What are its disadvantages? Does Nigeria need a presidential system of government where one man decides everything that happens in the country?
“By what we have now, if the President finds ways to limit the effectiveness of the legislature and for his own political reasons, then we are in trouble.”
On the issue of constitutional amendment, Baba-Ahmed said: “I will tell you what I think is best for Nigeria, I think our political system is running into difficulties and I think it’s time to put our politics on the table and get genuine representatives of the people.”
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