Oshiomhole: Tinubu not looking to work with rubber stamp national assembly

Adams Oshiomhole, senator-elect for Edo north senatorial district, says Bola Tinubu, president-elect, is not looking to work with a “rubber stamp” national assembly.

The outgoing ninth national assembly was constantly criticised as always doing the bidding of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja after he got his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oshiomhole said the incoming lawmakers are not going to the national assembly because of material needs.

The former governor of Edo said Tinubu is expecting to have a senate that will contribute to the development of the country.

“Our president-elect looks forward to a senate that would contribute to the development of the country. I will not be part of the legislature for the powerful but for the countrymen,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“I will be part of the senate that legislates for the good people of our countrymen, not for the powerful, by making sure that what we do in appropriation will be such that Nigerians get value for money.

“It is expected that the executive is powerful but does not have absolute power, so it will not be subject to legislative check.

“We are not there for the allowance. There are a couple of things that can be done differently so that the renewed hope of our party can be translated into reality.

“Even the president-elect will not look forward to a rubber stamp assembly but the one that can help to contribute to knowledge.

“Nobody has absolute knowledge but working together and negotiating to have a win-win formula that will contribute to the dividends of democracy.”

The former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said he would not go to the senate to lament about the country’s problems but contribute to bills that when passed could be enforced.

The 10th national assembly will be inaugurated in June.