Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged his fellow lawmakers to disregard critics who label the 10th National Assembly as a "rubber stamp" legislature, stating that such critics lack understanding of parliamentary functions.
Speaking on Thursday during a joint session of the National Assembly held in honor of President Bola Tinubu, Akpabio defended the legislature's independence while praising the President's two-year achievements.
"We should ignore the critics who tag us rubber stamp. They don't know why we are here," Akpabio stated firmly during his welcome address.
Commemorating Democracy Day
The Senate President used the occasion to propose the establishment of a June 12 Museum that would archive the works of pro-democracy advocates, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice for Nigeria's democratic journey.
"Today, we gather not to mourn injustice, but to honour resilience. We observe not the triumph of politicians, but the enduring faith of the Nigerian people in democracy," Akpabio remarked, reflecting on the significance of June 12, 1993, which he described as when "the torch of the long march to freedom was lit."
He emphasized that Nigeria didn't just lose an election on that historic day but "lost its innocence," as the initial shock across the nation gave way to resistance against military rule.
Celebrating Democratic Progress
Akpabio highlighted this year's Democracy Day theme, "26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development," calling it not merely a slogan but "a call to action" and "a reminder that democracy was not an end but a means to national transformation."
The Senate President commended President Tinubu's leadership, noting several major reforms including the unification of the foreign exchange market, local government autonomy, establishment of regional development commissions, and the creation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
"The National Assembly is proud to host you our President, our compatriot and one of our own as you fulfill the solemn constitutional duty of addressing the nation," Akpabio said, acknowledging Tinubu's role as "one of the architects of the very democratic foundation we commemorate today."
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