₦airaland Forum

First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has disclosed that her time in the Senate’s Seventh, Eighth and Ninth National Assemblies was very good and memorable.

Mrs. Tinubu, who described her sessions at the NASS where she served as a senator representing Lagos State as “really, really good,” spoke penultimate Saturday in Minna, Niger State, during the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of farm inputs to farmers, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport.

At the event, the First Lady, acknowledged several former colleagues now serving in the Federal Executive Council, including the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abdullahi Sabi; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Malagi; and the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh

Although Mrs. Tinubu, who served in the Senate from 2015 to 2023, did not elaborate on her comment, not a few political analysts told Arewa PUNCH that it was a subtle comparison with the current 10th National Assembly.

Nwagbo explained, “The First Lady’s comment on her time in the upper legislative chamber is very powerful and buried with a lot of meanings. Nigerians should not just see it as prasing the then Senate it is actually a comparison between the 7th, 8th, and 9th Senate and the current Senate.

“First, she was trying to say that the present Senate is nothing compared to the Senate then. To a large extent, I agree with her. What we have presently is a mockery of democracy. The Senate is supposed to be a check on the Executive, but what do we call a Senate today where every request sent by the Executive gets express passage? It is nothing short of a rubber stamp Senate,” he said.

Also, the Executive Director of Nigerian Open Society for Good Governance, Niger State chapter, Mrs Maureen Mammam, clarified that the First Lady was simply honest in her assertion. She said the country’s democracy has nosedived and hijacked by persons who pretend to be leaders but are mere sea pirates.

“Nigerian democracy has nosedived. We now have politicians who put self-interest first before this country or the people’s advancement. This explains why the youths are fleeing this country and not looking back.[/i]
[i]“The level of corruption is enough to drive anybody crazy. Look at insecurity, and the government is patting the terrorists on the back by reintegration and rehabilitating them. The Senate of this 10th assembly is the worst.

“Majority of the so-called distinguished are stained with corruption cases at the EFCC or ICPC. Where do we run to for help,” she lamented.

Meanwhile, Mrs Tinubu later commended the Niger State Government for its strides in agricultural development, stressing that the state has emerged as a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria.

“Today’s event is not just the commencement of another farming season; it is a bold statement that Nigeria is ready to feed herself. It signals a deliberate transition from subsistence farming to modern, mechanised, and commercially viable agriculture. The distribution of inputs would empower farmers to increase productivity and improve livelihoods,” she pointed out.

The Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, in his remarks, disclosed that the state has embraced mechanised agriculture as part of efforts to enhance food security.

He announced that the flag-off involved the deployment of 250 tractors of 75 horsepower each, 50 harvesters, and the distribution of 150,000 bags of fertiliser, among other inputs, to boost yields and reduce post-harvest losses.

“We have made significant progress across the agricultural value chain since the launch of this initiative in March 2024 with Mr. President. Niger State is now leading in agriculture, and we urge farmers to make judicious use of these inputs,” he said.

Bago noted further that the state’s efforts align with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agricultural and Food Security Programme.

Similarly, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, who attended the flag-off, said the proposed Sokoto-Badagry road project would include about 200 mini dams to support irrigation and boost agricultural productivity.

He assured that a significant number of the dams would be located in Niger State due to the extent of the project within the state and urged farmers to take advantage of the initiative to enhance food production and contribute to national food security.

Racoon:
The first Lady was simply honest in her assertion. “Nigerian democracy has nosedived. We now have politicians who put self-interest first before this country or the people’s advancement. This explains why the youths are fleeing this country and not looking back.

“The level of corruption is enough to drive anybody crazy. Look at insecurity, and the government is patting the terrorists on the back by reintegration and rehabilitating them. The Senate of this 10th assembly is the worst.

“Majority of the so-called distinguished are stained with corruption cases at the EFCC or ICPC. Where do we run to for help,” she lamented.

Saturnalia:
The youths have been fleeing this Country and not looking back since Obasanjo became President in 1999.

Yes corruption has eaten deeply into the fabrics of every Nigerian sector “WHICH DID NOT START WITH THE TINUBU GOVERNMENT”. Insecurity (especially Boko Haram) emerged during Obasanjo’s administration and has been used as a tool “by the North” to sabotage & subvert any Government they do not want (e.g Ebele Jonathan’s Government).

Yes, majority of the Senators and Governors have pending cases with the EFCC - “INCLUDING PETER OBI”.

Inspite of all your lamentations, Tinubu must complete his 8-Years in office and Peter Obi will never rule this Country.

Saturnalia:
The youths have been fleeing this Country and not looking back since Obasanjo became President in 1999.

Yes corruption has eaten deeply into the fabrics of every Nigerian sector “WHICH DID NOT START WITH THE TINUBU GOVERNMENT”. Insecurity (especially Boko Haram) emerged during Obasanjo’s administration and has been used as a tool “by the North” to sabotage & subvert any Government they do not want (e.g Ebele Jonathan’s Government).

Yes, majority of the Senators and Governors have pending cases with the EFCC - “INCLUDING PETER OBI”.

Inspite of all your lamentations, Tinubu must complete his 8-Years in office and Peter Obi will never rule this Country.

carzeem1:
The only thing working well under your husband is the subjugation of opposition and reduction of standard of living of Nigerians.

ArcSEMPECJ:
Supported , Peter Obi will never rule this country as you said but he will surely lead this country....

Let the rulers like your master lord and failure rule this country with what his wife is confessing now that the senate then had the conscience of the citizens at heart but since 2014, the country called Nigeria has been suffering from peanury, hardship and killings....

Yes, Youths were freeing running away from the country doing Obasanjo tenure but never in their numbers, Inshort, those moving are moving at the Mockery of those within , but now , it is in full gear, even you will like to leave but due to the wickedness of your lord and Personal failure, he doesn't want you to compete with his son on any level so that you will continue to bow and worship his leanage until your great grand Children continue where you stopped ......

datola:
That was David Mart cum Saraki's tenure.

I hope she knows what's she is insulating sha

AMINDA:
This is an indictment of the Nigerian Senate under the regime of your husband.

AMINDA:
This is an indictment of the Nigerian Senate under the regime of your husband.

Ofunaofu:
Today, the same Senate under your husband’s administration is a rubber stamp, the worst in this country’s history.