Saraki Alleges Portrait Was Omitted from Senate Gallery for Four Years, Commends Akpabio for Correction
By peterside Rejoice Eneky
Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has revealed that his official portrait was excluded from the Senate Gallery of past presiding officers for four years following his exit from office in 2019 a development he only recently saw rectified under the leadership of current Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Saraki made this revelation in a statement titled “The National Assembly and Nigeria’s Democracy in the Last 26 Years,” prepared for delivery at the joint sitting of the National Assembly on Democracy Day, June 12, but which he could not present due to time constraints.
“Just as my portrait was missing for four years in the Senate Gallery created for all former presiding officers, it was brought in just recently,” Saraki stated. “I thank my good friend, Senator Godswill Akpabio for that.”
Saraki, who served as Senate President from 2015 to 2019, used the occasion to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey, emphasizing the central role of the legislature in upholding democratic principles over the past 26 years.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for choosing to commemorate Democracy Day within the legislative chambers, rather than at the Presidential Villa, describing the move as a recognition of the legislature as the “bedrock of democracy.”
The former Senate President recalled pivotal moments in Nigeria’s legislative history, such as the resistance to the third term agenda, the invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity, and the battles for legislative independence including those during his own tenure.
While celebrating the resilience of Nigerians and honoring pro-democracy heroes, Saraki lamented the perceived decline in the vibrancy of the current legislature. He warned that both the executive and judicial arms have persistently undermined the National Assembly’s independence through interference and misinterpretation of its constitutional roles.
“We owe it a duty to those who fought for the present democracy and the generations to come to strengthen this institution,” he charged.
Saraki further called for greater inclusivity in Nigeria’s political landscape, especially concerning youth and women participation. He referenced the Not Too Young To Run Act as a significant step toward that goal but insisted that more action was needed to achieve true representation.
Emphasizing the importance of dissent and pluralism, Saraki reminded lawmakers that democracy depends on respecting both majority and minority views: “The voting system in parliament is ‘Aye’ and ‘Nay’. It is not designed to be one-sided.”
In a pointed remark, Saraki expressed appreciation for the 10th National Assembly’s decision to invite him to the joint session despite party differences — a gesture he implied was unlikely in the recent past.
“If it were in another time, they would have been looking at the body language of the President and my invite would have gotten missing. Just like my portrait,” he said.
He concluded with a rallying call for a legislature that serves as a true voice for the Nigerian people and an effective check on executive power.
“Happy Democracy Day to all Nigerians. God bless our dear country. God bless us all,” Saraki said.
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