He lamented that political interference and a lack of civic engagement during the Buhari administration derailed efforts that could have significantly improved citizens’ lives.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has called for a renewed focus on building strong democratic institutions in Nigeria.
He lamented that political interference and a lack of civic engagement during the Buhari administration derailed efforts that could have significantly improved citizens’ lives.
Speaking at the 2025 Reunion Gala Celebration of King’s College Old Boys Association of North America, Mr Saraki used his platform to stress the need for stronger democratic institutions and a more politically engaged citizenry.
While he recounted the strained relationship between the legislature under his leadership and former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, his remarks were also a broader critique of Nigeria’s political culture.
He said, “The elite and ordinary people kept quiet, were nonchalant, and stayed aloof,” Mr Saraki said, describing how silence and indifference during his tenure in the National Assembly allowed executive overreach and institutional stagnation to thrive.
“This is a big failure of followership, and it is an enabler for the continuous failure of leadership.”
Saraki, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the legislature under his watch faced undue pressure and resistance from the executive. “We were silenced, harassed, assaulted, bullied, and blackmailed,” he stated, noting that many legislative proposals meant to benefit Nigerians were blocked or frustrated.
Despite the intense political climate at the time—including an 18-count corruption charge from the Code of Conduct Bureau which was eventually dismissed—Saraki said he refused to make deals with the presidency to protect himself politically. “I could have agreed with everything the Presidency under Buhari wanted… I would have been a good ally,” he noted, implying that he chose principle over convenience.
Beyond revisiting past tensions, Saraki focused on the future, calling for a renewed commitment to nation-building. He criticised the tendency to glorify individuals rather than strengthen institutions and warned that many elected officials still lack the capacity to drive impactful policies.
“We should decide that from today, we will no longer keep quiet while our country is being misgoverned,” he urged, advocating for civic engagement at every stage—from candidate selection to policy implementation.