Building Strong Institutions is Beneficial Than Strengthening Individuals
Today is another great day in the history of our growing democracy, as I present myself before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on allegation of non Payment of customs duty on an Official Vehicle by Senate.
As the President of the 8th Senate and Senator from Kwara Central, I am proud of the Senate as an institution and its Constitutional role to represent the interests of the Nigerian people.
Further, I am proud to honor and respect the Senate Rule Book that guides our conduct and activities, which is why today I am presenting myself before the Nigerian Senate Committee.
We must continue to strenghten all our Institutions so that they can carry out their mandates. This is preferable and beneficial than strengthening individuals.
We must find ways to guard the institution and ourselves against those who wish to diminsh or rubbish institutional and individual’s reputation because of 5 minutes of fame. They try to bring everyone else down while grandstanding.
I did not import any vehicle, I did not ask anybody to act on my behalf. The vehicle is not my personal car.
We raised the issue on the customs policy based on interest of Nigerians. But those who want to fight the Senate for raising the issue against the retroactive application of the newly introduced policy on duty, chose to fight back using this channel. I urge the ethics committee to protect this institution of the Senate so that it is not ridiculed for political reasons.
Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki
President of Senate,
Federal Republic of Nigeria