Avoid anything that could cause tension - Saraki tells politicians

- The president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, urges political leaders to reduce the tension in the polity by contributing to an atmosphere of moderate and measured political conversations

- Saraki emphasises on the important role of the judiciary in promoting justice and bringing respect to the country

- The Senate president tells those contesting for elective offices to remember that the biggest offer is to serve the Nigerian people

The president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has urged Nigerian politicians to avoid doing anything that could cause tension in the country as the general elections approach.

Saraki on Wednesday, January 16, in a welcome back speech to senators on resumption from the 2018 end of year, said political leaders should help reduce the tension in the polity by contributing to an atmosphere of moderate and measured political conversations.

“Leaders should help reduce the tension in the polity by contributing to an atmosphere of moderate and measured political conversations. Expectations of the Executive are also palpable, particularly with regard to the need to uphold the Constitution and its tenets, especially as they guarantee the minimum basic requirement of Separation of Powers; the unity of the country and the welfare of the citizens," Saraki said.

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The Senate leader also emphasised the important role of the judiciary in promoting justice and bringing respect to the country. He said Nigeria’s democracy will be eroded if the judiciary is violated.

"On that note, I wish to lay emphasis on the role of the Judiciary in promoting justice and bringing respect to the country. If the Judiciary is violated or eroded or otherwise brought to ill repute, so do the values attached to its role in a democracy,” he said.

"Everyone in the political value chain should therefore do nothing that could raise tensions in the country. Nigerians are looking up to leaders who will douse flames that have the potential to threaten the peace and wellbeing of our country."

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He urged those contesting for elective offices to remember that the biggest offer is to serve the Nigerian people who have a right to choose who will represent them at all levels.

Saraki encouraged all to participate peacefully in the coming polls, noting that it is not a do or die affair.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) wants the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, replaced by another CJN to pave the way for rigging of the general elections.

The party’s spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Tuesday, January 15, claimed the APC was intending to appoint a CJN that would be used to curtail freedom of expression and silence opposition members, Channels TV reports.

The PDP spokesperson accused the federal government of attempting to stifle the judiciary and erode freedom of speech in the country.

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Onnoghen's Trial is Politically Motivated - APRJ | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng