- Says if we don’t have unity and peace, there will be no progress
- Urges the #9thSenate to uphold equity and fairness for every part of Nigeria and regard for the federal character principles enshrined in the constitution
- Describes the Nigerian constitution as imperfect document and calls for its ammendment.
- Says about 40 senators are returning while 60 others are not, unless for some who are at the tribunal including himself, that may return.
Thursday 6th June 2019, at the valedictory session of the #8thSenate , Distinguished Senator Dr Victor Umeh OFR, representing the people of Anambra Central stood indifferently and courageously once more to elucidate on his experience in the one year and few months he served as member of the #8thNationalAssembly.
Addressing the plenary presided by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Senator Umeh noted that his stay in the Senate though cut short by frivolous litigations by his opponents; he was able to maximize the opportunity in the remaining 17 months to render effective service to his constituents and Nigeria as a nation.
In his speech:
“I joined the Senate on 18th January 2018, when I was coming here, my opponents said I was coming here to while away the time. That I would not have any opportunity to do anything… I want to start by appreciating you Mr President and your deputy, and the Senate leader for the way you received me when I came here on January 18th 2018.
“I was delayed joining you by anti-democratic forces who used frivolous litigations to delay my coming but when I arrived here Mr President, not only that you welcomed me well, you gave me the opportunity to be part of the #8thSenate. You started by placing me in committees where I served. You gave me membership of eight committees and that afforded me the opportunity of immediately interacting with many senators in the course of the committee work. I am therefore very happy that within this short time; I have been here for 17th months only, and within this 17th months, I have been very active in this #8thSenate.
I must thank the chairman of Business and Rules, Senator Garbai for the opportunity he gave to me, because within the 17 months, I was able to sponsor two bills and sponsor some motions. I concluded two bills here passed by the Senate and got concurrence from the house of reps. within this short time; It was due to your even handedness in your leadership. I have carefully listened to our distinguished colleagues; I want to tell you Mr president that you have been a protector of everybody in this chamber.
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“Being the only Senator from APGA, I was therefore a minority in the minorities; sitting in the last roll here but you always gave me the opportunity to contribute in debates, in motions and bills. When I arrived here, the transport department gave me plate number 109 (the last) and I proudly moved around with this seat number 109 (we are 109 senators). So you made sure that everybody here that had anything to contribute to national development in this parliament was given the opportunity to to so.
“Having said that Mr President, it is often said that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. It is time that the judiciary applies the law and the provisions in the constitution, to protect the rights of the citizens. But the parliament is saddled with much more serious responsibility of making laws; we make laws to protect citizens of this country, their interests and laws that will ensure good governance of the nation.
“In my 17 months of being here, Mr President, I want to say that this Senate has done so much; agree that there were frosty relationship between the #8thNationalAssembly and the executive arm owing to the circumstances of the emergence of the National Assembly leadership. When I came here, I observed very carefully to see if you indeed were the problem or any other person in the chamber but I am deeply satisfied Mr President, this leadership has been very patriotic….”
He went further to say “let me remind this parliament that we have a very huge responsibility to the Nigerian people. We are the people who would ensure that the democracy survives…
” It is true that if the legislature removes its mind from its constitutional duties, this country will collapse.
” I want to remind us that Nigerians have lots of expectations from the parliament”
Nevertheless, he made some illustrations using the national motto inscribed in the Coat of Arm thus:
” this motto: Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress; that faith is faith in the Nigerian nation, if we don’t have unity and peace, there will be no progress… So I want to remind those who are part of the #9thSenate that the only thing that will preserve the unity of this country is our ability to ensure that no body and no place is left behind in this country, in the way we run Nigeria.
“very soon nominations will come for confirmation to the #9thSenate, we must ensure that the Federal Character principally enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is respected. IF WE DON’T RESPECT THIS PROVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE CONFIRMATIONS WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IN THE NEXT ASSEMBLY, WE SHALL BE THREATENING THE UNITY OF THE COUNTRY.
“It is very important therefore that the oversight function given to the parliament is girdled jealously. No body is asking the parliament to confront anybody but we have to discharge our mandate by the constitution.
” let us be very mindful of this need to be FAIR TO EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY; if we don’t do that, the laws we make will not make any meaning. It is by getting everybody together that this country will survive.
” I therefore plead that those of our colleagues who are coming back should on our behalf ensure to PUT EVERY PART OF NIGERIA IN CONSIDERATION IN ALL THE THINGS WE DO…
” I thank God that today I am leaving with full satisfaction; that I have put my voice in a number of national issues particularly the state of killings that ravaged this country last year. These are the very important things we have to address as we move on as a nation. Spilling of blood of any Nigerian citizen is something that must be abhorred, and everything must be done to prevent waste of lives and spilling of blood”
Finally he added:
“so as I leave my colleagues hoping that if u am lucky, I may come back… The judiciary have been bold enough (the stoke in Zamfara), to underscore the need to follow the law of this land, to obey the rules… If we don’t obey the rules and follow the laws of Nigeria, we would be wasting our time. The judiciary have done that, swept away 35 people with certificate of return to underscore the fact that THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO OBEDIENCE TO THE RULE AND LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY, the parliament can follow suit.
“THE CONSTITUTION OF NIGERIA HAVE BEEN POINTED TO BE AN IMPERFECT DOCUMENT. This parliament cannot shy away from the imperfections in our constitution. I know there are some people who are enjoying the imperfections but patriotic powers of duty requires the parliament to continously look at the constitution and do things that will promote the unity of Nigeria.
“I love all of you. As we go, we’ll continue to meet, either back here or outside here… Thank you very much!
“May God Bless Nigeria!!
