The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has promised that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming 8th National Assembly would provide credible and responsible opposition to deepen democracy and promote good governance in the country.

He also announced that the Forum of the PDP National Assembly members-elect would hold a one-day retreat in Port Harcourt on Monday, June 1, to strategise towards their opposition role in the 8th National Assembly.

In a statement in Enugu on the occasion of Nigeria’s 16th Democracy Day anniversary, Senator Ekweremadu described the smooth transition from the PDP administration led by former President Goodluck Jonathan to the All Progressives Congress (APC) government as a big leap for the nation’s democracy.

He said: “It is to the credit of Nigerians that the Forth Republic has outlasted the nation’s previous democratic experience. Despite our challenges, Nigeria witnessed a historic transition from one democratic administration to the other in 2007. And on this Democracy Day anniversary, we have witnessed the first transition of the instruments of power from one party to the other and the world has continued to pour encomiums on our immediate past President and Nigerians because this came without bloodshed, violence or break-up of the country as many had predicted.”

While calling for cross-party support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Ekweremadu, however, said the Forum of PDP National Assembly members-elect decided to organise the retreat themed ‘The Role of the Opposition in Facilitating Development and Good Governance’ to “equip its members with the requisite skills and knowledge on change management and how to provide the much-needed responsible and robust opposition that deepens democracy and promotes national development.”

He added: “Having lost our majority advantage in the National Assembly for now, it naturally means that the PDP will assume the role of the opposition in the 8th National Assembly. This is an entirely new experience for the party since its inception.

“Resource persons who have been through this road before, especially from emerging democracies in Africa have accepted to come and share their experiences with us. We believe that this will go a very long way in shaping not only the quality of governance in the next four years, but will also help to re-launch the party to power.”

He stressed that the Forum would hold the Federal Government accountable and ensure that Nigerians are not shortchanged.

*Adapted from Newswatch Times. Photo shows Ekweremadu

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