How Nnamani Saved Nigeria’s Democracy – Buhari

How Nnamani Saved Nigeria’s Democracy – Buhari
Dr. Ken Nnamani
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President Muhammadu Buhari has showered praises on former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani for the role he played in stabilising the nation’s democracy while presiding over the Senate.

The Commander-in-Chief stated this, Thursday, at the launching/public presentation of the book, ‘Standing Strong: Legislative Reforms, Third Term and Other Issues of the 5th Senate,’ written by Nnamani.

Represented by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, President Buhari said but for the courage of Nnamani and his colleagues, the seamless transfer of power in 2007 would have been difficult, if not impossible.

He said: ‘We thank Senator Nnamani and his colleagues at the National Assembly for standing strong in carrying out their constitutional duty in the defence of democracy in our dear country, Nigeria.

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‘We have had a President handed over power to another President elected on the platform of the same political party. In 2015, an opposition political party defeated a sitting President and our democracy witnessed a smooth transfer of power from one political party to another. Our democracy is growing and can be said to be matured.

‘Though we have multiple political parties, two are dominant as they both have a presence in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.’

TheVice President Yemi Osinbajo, who also spoke at the event saluted Nnamani, coming short of saying the former lawmaker would be seeking an elective office in 2023.

‘He (Nnamani) is a man that truly loves the nation. He wants to serve but he is not desperate which informs why at the risk of losing his Senate Presidency, he stood his ground. Your role in our national life is just beginning,” Osinbajo said in his brief goodwill message.

Chairman of the ocassion and former Minister of Defence, Gen Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retd) while congratulating the author, lamented what he called the lack of commitment in documenting for posterity, happenings that defined the nation’s history at one point or the other.

‘The book is a classic history of a country and we have the unfortunate habit of not valuing  and preserving our history. The result is that the lies and the distortions that hit the headlines survive.

‘So, I want all of you if you forget everything this morning, you mustn’t forget the fact that the records of what really happened have been documented and everybody should try and possess it, read it, and look out for witnesses,’ Danjuma stated.

Earlier in his welcome address, the author said he chose to write the book to underscore the importance of adhering to due process, saying, ‘let’s present to Nigeria and leaders of the African continent the simple truth that for democracy, political stability, and economic development to flourish in Africa, we must strive to maintain the due process. Due process is the heart of the rule of law and democracy.

Nnamani had some time in 2016 defected to the APC from the PDP.

AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK

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