Jonathan throws jab at Akpabio and others as he hails past National Assembly for standing up to presidents

Jonathan made these remarks on Wednesday evening at the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards Dinner, organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Honoured with the Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award, Jonathan recalled his eagerness to sign the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Bill into law. He noted that the bill, sponsored by Senator Lee Maeba of Rivers State and others, was a product of a truly dynamic legislature.

Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.

..

“When I was acting President in 2010, and the National Assembly presented the bill, I promptly signed it and we quickly established a monitoring body. Someone like Lee Maeba, the bill’s originator, and his group also deserve recognition. That was a period when the National Assembly truly lived up to its name,” Jonathan said.

He further highlighted the Assembly’s assertiveness, recalling how it passed the Niger Delta Development Commission bill into law despite President Obasanjo’s reluctance to sign it.

“In 2000, the NDDC bill was also vetoed by the National Assembly. They overrode President Obasanjo’s refusal. Typically, in other countries, it is the President who vetoes bills.

“But in Nigeria, during the law-making process, it is the National Assembly that can exercise the veto. If the President does not assent to a bill within 30 days, the National Assembly can reconvene and, with a two-thirds majority calculated by headcount, not voice vote—enact the bill into law.

“That is how the NDDC Act came into being, thanks to a truly vibrant National Assembly.

“I would like to use this opportunity to commend Lee Maeba and his team,” Jonathan concluded.

While Jonathan didn’t specifically condemned the current lawmakers, analysts said his remarks at the event is not but a jibe against them.

It is observed that the 10th assembly has on several occasions come under criticism as many view them as ‘rubber stamp’ legislator – appendage to the presidency, having surrendered its independence and authority.

Recently, the Senate President, in defence of the criticism, said lawmakers were not elected to engage in confrontation with the Executive but to work in partnership for the progress of Nigeria.

Akpabio made the remarks in a feature documentary set to mark two years of the Bola Tinubu administration.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Akpabio insisted that legislators were elected to make laws that advance the nation’s interest, not to act as political antagonists.

“When elected into the National Assembly, whether in the Senate or the House of Representatives, your constituents will not give you boxing gloves. It’s not a boxing tournament. You are there to work in a bipartisan manner for the interest of Nigeria,” Akpabio said.

Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.

..

The Senate President explained that the cordial relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive arm over the past two years has been made possible by a shared vision for Nigeria’s development.