President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday, said with the election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2023 elections, Nigeria achieved in 24 years a feat the United States of America took 185 years to achieve.
LEADERSHIP reports that both Tinubu and Shettima were at different times members of the Senate before their present positions.
In his welcome address during the 2024 budget presentation to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Tinubu, Akpabio said former lawmakers now occupy strategic positions in the executive arm of government, a development, he said, made the two branches to foster a healthier relationship.
Akpabio said with former lawmakers running the executive, a cordial relationship between the two arms would not only be a must, but they will continue to walk hand in hand and see eye to eye.
“Mr President, the United States of America has started democracy for about 247 years. But it was only when it marked its 185th anniversary that it succeeded in producing two former Senators John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson as president and vice president, respectively.
“But within 24 years of our democracy, we have achieved what took the United States of America 185 years to achieve,” Akpabio stated to a thunderous applause by lawmakers.
He went ahead to mention other former lawmakers currently occupying strategic positions in government.
“Not only do we have two former Distinguished Senators serving as the President and Vice President of our dear country; we also have other alumni of this Assembly in positions of public trust: Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other Senators in the Cabinet.
“Mr. President, Distinguished and Honorable Members, maintaining a cordial relationship with the Executive Arm has always been a requirement of the law, but now, given that our Old Boys now run the Executive, a good relationship with the executive is a must.
“Never have we had so many bridges and connection points between these two arms of Government.
“So we will continue to walk hand in hand and see eye to eye with the Executive Arm, while ensuring that the principles of separation of powers, as well as checks and balances as enshrined in our Constitution are observed in the overriding public interest,” Akpabio added.
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