The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has assured that the 8th Senate would put Nigeria first and also carry out a dilligent work regarding screening of the ministerial nominees by next Tuesday.
Saraki gave the assurance in Ikenne home of the matriarch of Awolowo family, Chief HID Awolowo when he led a delegation of the Nigerian Senate on a condolence visit to the deceased’s children.
Aside the Senate President, those in the delegation are Senator Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central), Senator Biodun Olujinmi (Ekiti state) among others.
Saraki noted that Nigerians would have the opportunity of participating in the screening process from the comfort of their homes as the exercise would be broadcast live, adding that notwithstanding any relationship with nominees, Nigerians would come first in the spirit of the constitution.
“We have said that for the 8th Senate, it is not going to be business as usual. What I can assure you is that we will go with the constitution, the rules, we will put Nigeria first.
“Screening will be done with level of seriousness and what we are all about is our constitutional responsibility to ensure that we find people who are fit enough to be Ministers and particularly this time, to give President Buhari the support he requires.
“It is not about who you like or who you don’t like and I want to assure Nigerian that will not be the basis, it will be based on the constitution and based on ability and our own assessment of capacity of the nominees to perform.
“And I assure you that individual differences would not be an issue at all, and we have spoken with Senators and told them that.
“At this moment of time, we have made sure that as much as possible, we share with the public, we try to ensure that all will be covered live so that everybody can see, we will all be screening from our bedrooms and sitting rooms as well along with the Senators.
“You’re rest assured that we will do a good job Nigerians would be proud of,” he said.
And earlier while commiserating with Mama’s children at Efunyela Hall within the family home, the Senate President described the late HID Awolowo as a great person, an icon and mother for all.
He said this informed why the Senate passed a resolution mandating a delegation to be led by the leadership to pay a condolence visit to the family
Saraki said: “on Wednesday the eight Senate passed a resolution mandated us to come here and commiserate with Awolowo family, the good people of Ogun State and Nigeria in general on the loss of great person and an icon.
“Normally, as our tradition, we send a delegation, but, for Mama she deserved this even more is for the entire Senate represented by the presiding officers to be here in person I lead that delegation. That is why I am here in person representing entire eight Senate.
“The country, not the family that has lost a great person, she was a great person because since the death of Papa for so many years she continued the life of virtues and his dreams and she sustained over many years she showed that she was a uniting factor not only in South West, but, Nigeria in general.
“I can say that, because just few months ago we were here during the period of our campaign and I don’t think there had been a campaign in this country that no politician will not stop here to pay respect and honour.
“She earned that because we have many wives and mothers who after their husband passed out have not been able to sustain the dream, I think she has shown herself that in the entire country she is the only person that has been able to achieve that that is a great achievement.
“As we mourn we also celebrate the great life she has lived. I remember when we were here we thought we would come to celebrate her 100 years but that shows that we must believe that were of the Almighty God.
” It is not we that decide some of these things when they happen, but, she lived a great life, she is someone we should be proud of not only here but also in Nigeria I don’t see if there is any wife or mother in the entire country, wife of a leader or politician that does what she has done , some years after her husband has gone she continued to sustain the dreams.
” Once again on behalf of the entire Senate I commiserate with the Awolowo family , the Ogun State people and Nigeria at large. The country has lost a great person and we have a lot to be proud of and with the faces I am seeing mama HID is coming, I think she deserves the honour.”
In her redponse, Mama’s eldest daughter, Mrs Omotola Oyediran, commended the senate leadership for identifying with them.
She disclosed that her mother’s final journey to be with the maker, would commence on the 15th of November when the body will be taken to Apapa home of the Awolowo’s in Lagos for an interdenominational thanksgiving.
On the 16th, the body will also depart Lagos for Ibadan for another service before heading to Ikenne in Ogun State where service will be held before a private interment the same day November 25th. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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