8th Senate: Where all power belongs to God

By: Senator Ike Ekweremadu

The curtain has fallen on the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They were four turbulent years, but God navigated us through the storms as the President of the Senate and I successfully bowed out as presiding officers of the Senate.

With the unprecedented number of Bills and Senate Resolutions passed, public petitions handled, in addition to key constitution amendments to further strengthen our democracy, and our courageous interventions in various aspects of our national life despite distractions, I am certainly proud of our achievements. The 8th Senate will also be remembered for standing firm in defence of democracy and its fine principles, including the independence of the legislature.

I specially thank the good people of Enugu West Senatorial District, who elected and supported me and all Nigerians, the members of the press, who stood by us and the nation’s democracy for the past four years. You were our oxygen and bastion while the going was the toughest. I duff my hat to you all.

To all my colleagues, I say a big thank you for the great honour done to me; you not only elected me the Deputy President of the Senate, but also stood by me and indeed the Senate leadership, which you freely instituted. But for your support, our leadership wouldn’t have ended in glory.

Above all, I appreciate God. Indeed, the lesson in the events of the past four years is that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. All power belongs to God and He gives it to whomever He pleases at the time it so pleases Him. In His hand rests the power to raise or bring down and the power to exalt or humble, for by strength shall no man prevail. May all glory and honour be ascribed to him.

As we prepare for the 9th Senate, I am confident that God, who has been our help in ages past will not let us down in the years to come.

Again, thank you.