Ensure democracy dividends gets to all, IBB tasks Lawmakers

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By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
The legislative arm of government in any democratic statecraft must play its iconic role in ensuring the executive delivers on its promises to the citizens and check against infractions, former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has said.
Babangida said the legislature, more than any group else, must see itself beyond party lines, ideologies and manifestos and work assiduously to guard and check the executive arm against highhandedness, executive rascality and other forms of misconducts that could rob on the other two arms of the government.
Speaking while receiving members of the Niger State House of Assembly (NSHA), who were in his house to felicitate with him on his 75th birthday celebration, Babangida said at no other time than now has the need for a pragmatic legislative arm becomes more crucial.
He therefore charged the leadership of the state’s legislative arm to be serious minded in the discharge of their responsibilities to ensure that the citizens and the state were better off adding that their roles as lawmakers is to make sure that life becomes much better for people and their society.
He tasked the Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Marafa to do all that was within his constitutional powers to ensure that the second arm of the government works in bequeathing true dividends of democracy to the citizens without let or compromise.
Babangida charged the leadership of the House to help the state and its citizens by ensuring checks and balances to protect the citizens’ rights, privileges and put the state on the right strides for development for the good of all.
The former President commended the Lawmakers for so far holding their heads high and thanked them for the show of love by felicitating with him on his 75th birthday.
He noted that one of the ways they could prove their mettle and guarantee equitable service delivery across the state is through their veto power as enshrined in the constitution (checks and balances).
He therefore urged the Speaker to guide the legislature in making laws that would give the executive arm the necessary push to fulfill campaign promises made to the people.
The former President applauded the cordial working relationship between the the executive and the legislative arms of government in the state saying “I am happy that the legislature under your leadership and the executive are working harmoniously to ensure that everyone of us reaps the benefits of democracy in line with the campaign promises you made”.
Babangida expressed optimism that with such understanding and collaborations between the three arms of government in the state, citizens across the state would have no cause to lament about the administration in the state.
The Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Marafa had earlier told their host that his colleague Lawmakers in the state see the former President as their father and were at his residence to felicitate with him on his 75th birthday.
He led other members in prayers for the continuous good health and long life to the celebrant and prayed that Allah grants Babangida more strength and wisdom in his remaining years on earth.

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