By Samuel Adeola
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has accused ex-President Muhammadu Buhari of deliberately undermining the 8th National Assembly, saying his refusal to “cut deals” led to relentless executive attacks on the legislature.
Speaking at the 2025 Reunion Gala of King’s College Old Boys in Houston, Texas, Saraki said the Buhari administration blackmailed and harassed the Senate throughout his tenure, stalling progressive laws and initiatives meant to improve the lives of Nigerians.
“The Senate under my leadership was bullied, silenced and blocked from making progress,” Saraki stated. “The Presidency wanted compliance, not cooperation. But I chose integrity over compromise.”
Saraki, who served as Senate President from 2015 to 2019, lamented the lack of public outcry during the ordeal. “We were treated like orphans. The people, including the elite, looked away.”
He insisted that Nigeria’s problem lies not just in its leadership, but also in its followership.
“Our democracy suffers because we are building strong personalities rather than strong institutions,” he noted.
Urging Nigerians to rise against misgovernance, Saraki challenged citizens to stop staying silent.
“We must speak up when wrong policies are introduced, when bad candidates are forced on us, and when mediocrity becomes the standard.”
Saraki’s tenure was widely seen as turbulent, marked by legal battles and political resistance from the executive, particularly after his defection to the opposition in 2018.
