Re: Saraki, Ekweremadu, 28 others yet to sponsor bill

After reading through your lead story with the above headline in yesterday’s edition of your influential newspaper, I can only conclude that it is either the story resulted from ignorance of legislative practice and convention or it was a product of mischief. The story is seeking to present the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and […]

After reading through your lead story with the above headline in yesterday’s edition of your influential newspaper, I can only conclude that it is either the story resulted from ignorance of legislative practice and convention or it was a product of mischief.
The story is seeking to present the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as having not performed as Senators because they did not sponsor any bill in the last one year of the Eighth Senate. The story is akin to saying the editor of Daily Trust should be castigated because he does not write news stories as we do not see his byline on stories published by the newspaper. I am sure only somebody with little knowledge of the role of the Editor in newspaper production will hold this position.
The Senate President and his deputy as presiding officers cannot and should not be expected to sponsor bills because their role is to ensure that appropriate bills are brought to the floor of the Senate for passage. Even when they originate bills and motions, such should be given to other members to sponsor. At times, some sponsors of certain motions include the names of the presiding officers as co-sponsor. That is just a mere courtesy, without any effect.
How can the presiding officer who directs which motion or bill gets to the floor, directs the debate, rule on the decisions taken by fellow Senators while voting on a motion or bill now be the one whose bill or motion is being decided upon. A judge cannot preside over his own case. Senator Saraki is contented with his role as presiding officer who facilitates the sponsorship of bills and motions by his colleagues, directs the debate and reflect the decision of his colleagues on the passage or otherwise of a bill or motion.
We challenge your reporter who obviously lacks adequate knowledge of the tradition, convention, process and practice of the Senate to tell your readers which Senate President since 1999 engaged in struggling with fellow Senators to take the credit for sponsorship of bills and motions.
Dr. Saraki is satisfied with the opportunity given to him by his colleagues to share in all the credits earned by the Senate as well as the blames arising from the activities of the Senate as an institution. His involvement in sponsorship and passage of bills will continue to be in the background.
Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President.