Why Buhari had issues with N/Assembly — Sen. Abba Aji
The relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government is not as bad as many people portray it, Senator Abba Aji has said.
Senator Aji, who served as Minority Whip in the 5th Senate and thereafter Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters to late President Umaru Yar’adua, said many factors came to play when the APC took over, a development that made the journey turbulent.
Speaking on the second anniversary of the 8th Senate which falls today, Senator Aji said there was much to celebrate.
“Actually, the relationship has not been bad as such. You know, the only institution, the main institution that gives a nation or Nigeria its democratic picture is the National Assembly. Even during military regime, we’ve the executive and we’ve the judiciary. So it’s the National Assembly that’s the democratic institution; with elected people from every square inch of Nigeria.
“Therefore, there’s bound to be oversight responsibility and there would be differences of opinion; there would be difference on what the legislature would consider as priority and what the executive would consider as priority but always there’s a middle ground.
“And they’ve always reached a middle ground; and Senator Bukola Saraki and Dogara are very experienced people and I’m personally happy to have them at the helm of affairs. They are both good team players. The little disagreements that came about have been resolved using democratic tone,” he said. On why the crisis between the executive and the legislature
lingered under President initial Muhammadu Buhari, he said, “There’s little difference with what obtained in the past. This’s the first time the opposition becomes the majority in the National Assembly; and also, unlike other parties, the APC actually came to governance without looking at the executive-legislative relationship.
“For example, it’s the first time ever that the National Assembly was allowed to elect its own leaders without party influence. In the past, PDP caucus would meet and the party leaders would tell them who would be the Senate president and who would be the Speaker.
“But this time, APC didn’t do that; it allowed democracy to enthrone; in other words, without the influence of APC as a party, the National Assembly members elected their leaders. It has never happened,” he said.
Senator Aji said the National Assembly had treated President Buhari well and deserved accolades.
“There’re things we’ve to look at. There’re challenges, we’re in recession; we’ve president that has to be away on medical trip frequently. So they’ve shown maturity in maintaining calm, peace and stability in government; it’s the first time we’re seeing the National Assembly under one leadership,” he said.