BEING THE TEXT OF A KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE ON “HOW LEGISLATURE BRINGS ABOUT DEMOCRATIC STABILITY BY STRENGTHENING GOVERNANCE AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT” AT THE PLATFORM’S JUNE FORUM WITH THE THEME “GOVERNANCE. DEMOCRACY. NATIONAL SECURITY.” HELD AT THE LAGOS MARRIOTT HOTEL, IKEJA GRA, LAGOS, ON 12TH JUNE, 2026
I hereby observe all protocols and convey my appreciation to the conveners of The Platform, The Covenant Nation, and particularly its founder and senior pastor, Pastor Poju Oyemade. My greetings to the distinguished men and women gathered in this hall, and to the many more watching across this country and beyond. Good day to you all. I want to begin not with an argument, but with a date. June 12. For a long time, this was a date the Nigerian state preferred to forget —
SPEECH BY FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT, DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, AT THE ELECTIVE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) HELD INSIDE THE VELODROME OF THE MKO ABIOLA STADIUM, ABUJA ON MARCH 29TH – 30TH, 2026
PDP , Power to the People. From the spectacle I am seeing here, the people are truly in power here in our Party. This is actually the celebration of democracy. We are today celebrating the survival of our party after the recent storm. We give all glory to Almighty Allah (SWT) for the grace of witnessing the events of today.Today's gathering is an indication that our party is very much alive and kicking. We have started the restoration process and it will be anchored on
SPEECH BY FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT, DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, AS THE CHAIRMAN, AT THE 23RD DAILY TRUST DIALOGUE WITH THE THEME: NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT, HELD AT THE NAF CONFERENCE CENTRE & SUITES, KADO EXPRESSWAY, ABUJA, ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 22ND, 2026.
Distinguished guests, esteemed scholars, policymakers, and colleagues in public service - past and present - Thank you for the privilege of addressing a subject that speaks to the very soul of our nation: the journey of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Gatherings such as this, convened by credible media institutions, are indispensable to the health of any democracy. They compel reflection, encourage accountability, and demand honesty. In societies that make progress, the media does not merely report history; it interrogates it. Today, I speak not as a partisan
GOODWILL MESSAGE BY DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON Former President of the Senate and Former Governor of Kwara State At the Launch of the Ignite Nigeria Economic Outlook 2026
Nigeria’s Economic Outlook 2026: From Adjustment to Advantage Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, captains of industry, policymakers, and fellow Nigerians: it is a profound honour to be here for the launch of the Ignite Nigeria Economic Outlook 2026 Report. A document that comes at a defining moment in our nation’s economic journey I have long believed that progress in our nation is built on shared effort, shared responsibility, and shared vision. Gatherings such as this— where evidence, ideas, and collaboration converge—are essential to shaping the Nigeria we
OPENING REMARKS BY DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT (2015 – 2019) AT THE FOURTH TECHNICAL SESSION OF THE 2-DAY RETREAT FOR SENATORS OF THE 10TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON FISCAL POLICY AND TAX REFORMS IN UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE ON OCTOBER 20, 2023.
Let me commend the leadership of the 10th Senate and the management of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) for coming up with this lofty Programme which is not only timely, relevant, useful, and instructive but also taking place in a beautiful environment which in itself represents the prospects that are abundant in our country. A retreat that aimed to “deepen participants’ knowledge of public financial management, fiscal policy, and tax reforms”, “develop the strategic legislative objectives of the 10th Senate and
A GOODWILL MESSAGE DELIVERED BY FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT, DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, AT THE FAREWELLDINNER FOR OUTGOING GOVERNORS ORGANISED BY THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS FORUM (NGF) AT THE TRANSCORP HOTEL, ABUJA, ONSUNDAY, MAY 14, 2023.
1. Let me start my goodwill message by, on behalf of all the outgoing members of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), giving glory to Almighty God who has made it possible for them to complete their tenure. 2. I congratulate the outgoing members of this distinguished forum as you get ready to bow out gracefully and hand over the mantle of leadership in your respective states to your successors. 3. More deserving of this congratulations are your family members who have been paying a huge price
Executive – Legislative Relationship: A Delicate But Necessary Mix
BEING THE TEXT OF A SPEECH BY DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE ON ‘EXECUTIVE – LEGISLATIVE RELATIONSHIP’ PRESENTED TO A RETREAT ORGANISED BY THE BAYELSA STATE GOVERNMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND OTHER TOP GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONARIES AT THE IBOM-ICON HOTELS & GOLF RESORT, UYO, AKWA IBOM ON 18TH MARCH, 2021. “The Senate (Legislature) was an independent entity and operated as a co-equal Branch; our democracy depended on the separation and balance between the two (executive
TAKING THE LEAD: A CONVERSATION ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP’ BEING THE ADDRESS OF H. E. DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI (CON), PRESIDENT OF THE 8th SENATE AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA) ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE HOLDING AT THE YAKUBU GOWON STADIUM, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE ON MONDAY OCTOBER 25th, 2021
It is a great honor for me to be invited to speak at this esteemed gathering of some of the most enlightened minds in our country. Although my training is in medicine, I assure you that I feel very comfortable to be in the midst of so many lawyers. After all, for the past 30-years, the first person I see every morning is a lawyer. And like most lawyers, she has further complicated my life by giving birth to: mother lawyer. And, perhaps more than
GROW NIGERIA CONVERSATION
BEING THE OPENING SPEECH PRESENTED BY DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE ON THE INAUGURAL SESSION OF THE ‘GROW NIGERIA CONVERSATION’ WITH THE THEME: ‘REVERSING THE FLOURISHING ECONOMY OF KIDNAPPING AND BANDITRY: IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS’ 1. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Let me welcome you to the maiden edition of this Grow Nigeria Conversation. This platform was conceived as a non-partisan, solution-driven, real time Dialogue series designed to bring pragmatic authenticity to the people’s concerns by engaging young people,
COMMISSIONING OF THE STATE HOUSE CLINIC ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
SPEECH DELIVERED BY IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, ON THE COMMISSIONING OF THE STATE HOUSE CLINIC ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING, PORT HARCOURT, BUILT BY THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT ON MARCH 4, 2021 PROTOCOL… 1. Today, I have several reasons to be happy. Many of you present here do not know that just a few hours ago, the Federal High Court, Lagos, gave judgement against EFCC and proclaimed that my property in Lagos was not acquired from the proceed of any crime and