Abdul-Rahman Abubakar
7 June 2011
The Seventh Senate is to spear head moves to cut down on high cost of running government in the country, re-elected Senate President David Mark yesterday.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu representing Enugu West was also re-elected as Deputy President of the Senate unopposed.
In his inaugural speech after being re-elected as President of Senate, Mark said, “There is a need for collaboration between the Executive and National Assembly to ensure that Nigerians get a budget that can be effectively implemented. Nigerians complain that our democracy is too expensive. We, as representatives of the people, must initiate legislations that will reduce cost of governance at all levels thereby freeing resources to attend to the basic needs of the people.
“This session of the Senate and National Assembly stands on the threshold of history. By 2014, Nigeria would have existed for 100 years as a country. History beckons on us to lay the foundation for a transformational agenda of development.
“As we celebrate the 100 years of our existence in another three years, this Session of the National Assembly would have to render a historic account to the Nigerian people on how we have laid the foundation for a new Nigeria; This call for landmark legislations to change the course of history for the present and future generations.”
The election of Mark is the second time a Senate President is re-elected for second term after Senator Joseph Wayas was re-elected President of Senate during the Second Republic in 1983.
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama when security operatives invited Senator Alphonsus Igbeke (PDP, Anambra North) shortly before commencement of inauguration of the Senate and prevented him from partaking in the exercise.
Igbeke is alleged to have forged some documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) leading to the commission giving him certificate of return for the election conducted in his constituency. His victory is being challenged at the court.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Taken from:
Mark Returns As Senate President