President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday boasted that what took America 185 years, Nigeria achieved it within 24 years.
Speaking during the budget presentation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the joint session of the National Assembly, Akpabio eulogized Tinubu, who was a Senator before becoming a President, a feat he said took America several years.
“It is said that no matter how high the eagle flies, its talons keep pointing to the earth. Your Excellency, we know that no matter how high you rise, your heart will always point to this Assembly.
“Mr President, the United States has been a democracy for 247 years. But it was only when it marked the 185th Anniversary that it succeeded in producing two former senators (J F Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson) as President and Vice President respectively.
“But within 24 years of our democracy, we have achieved what took USA 185 years to achieve. Not only do we have two former Distinguished Senators serving as the President and Vice President of our dear country; but we also have other alumni of this Assembly in positions of public trust: Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other Senators in the Cabinet.”
Speaking on the cordial relationship with the executive, Akpabio said, “Mr. President, Distinguished and Honorable Members, maintaining a cordial relationship with the Executive Arm has always been a requirement of the law, but now, given that our Old Boys now run the Executive, a good relationship with the executive is a must.
“Never have we had so many bridges and connection points between these two arms of Government. So we will continue to walk hand in hand and see eye to eye with the Executive Arm while ensuring that the principles of separation of powers as well as checks and balances as enshrined in our Constitution are observed in the overriding public interest.”
