Strong democratic institutions key to tackling insecurity — Saraki

…Says 8th Senate was not a rubber stamp
…Urges Nigerians to cherish democracy

By Dapo Akinrefon

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that strong democratic institutions are essential to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, while urging lawmakers to promote transparency and strengthen public trust in governance.

Saraki stated this on Friday while delivering a keynote address at The Platform, a programme organised by The Covenant Nation in Lagos.

Speaking on the theme, “How Legislature Brings About Democratic Stability by Strengthening Governance and National Development,” Saraki said the legislature plays a critical role in ensuring accountability through oversight of government borrowing, budgets and public appointments.

“A strong legislature promotes transparency. A transparent government inspires public trust. Public trust strengthens democratic legitimacy. And democratic legitimacy produces stability,” he said.

According to him, the independence of the National Assembly should not be viewed as opposition to the executive arm of government but as a necessary feature of a healthy democracy.

“The independence of the National Assembly is not rebellion against the government of the day. It is the very thing that makes a government legitimate because a mandate that is never tested is a mandate no one can trust,” he said.

Saraki also argued that national stability cannot be achieved through security measures alone, noting that societies with strong security structures can still suffer instability when trust in institutions is weak.

“When we speak of national stability, attention often shifts to the military, police and other security agencies. Physical security is important, but it alone cannot create stability. The most heavily policed societies can still be unstable, fractured by inequality and weakened by a lack of public trust,” he said.

Reflecting on his tenure between 2015 and 2019, Saraki maintained that the 8th Senate was not a rubber stamp legislature and was committed to protecting citizens’ rights.

He noted that the Senate under his leadership handled and resolved more public petitions than any previous Senate in the current democratic dispensation.

As an example, he cited the case of Police Corporal Celestine Williams, who was dismissed from service in 1996 without trial under a military decree.

According to Saraki, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions reviewed the matter and found the dismissal inconsistent with democratic principles, leading to Williams’ reinstatement.

“That is what governance feels like from the ground—not grand theories, but real interventions that affect people’s lives,” he said.

The former Kwara State governor stressed that the legislature remains a vital pillar of democracy.

“The legislature, for all its imperfections, is the load-bearing wall of our democracy. Remove it, weaken it or hollow it out, and the whole structure comes down,” he said.

Saraki acknowledged that the 8th Senate experienced periods of tension with the executive arm of government but insisted that such disagreements were part of the constitutional responsibility of an independent legislature.

“We did not see our role as merely applauding whatever came from the executive. There were moments of real tension—uncomfortable, costly and personal—but that is part of democratic governance,” he added.

On Democracy Day, Saraki said June 12 remains a powerful symbol of Nigerians’ commitment to democratic values and the rule of law.

He recalled that the date commemorates the 1993 presidential election widely believed to have been won by late M.K.O. Abiola before its annulment.

“Democracy in Nigeria was never handed to us. It was fought for. And what is fought for must be cherished, protected and built upon, or it slips away,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to continue defending democratic institutions and values, stressing that the country’s democratic gains were achieved through sacrifice and must not be taken for granted.

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