President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Friday reiterated his commitment to freedom of speech and the use of social media.
In a series of tweets on his personal account @BukolaSaraki, the President of the Senate, was responding to a story carried by some publications that a civil servant was being allegedly vilified for criticizing him.
“I use social media, so I am a firm believer in freedom of speech and using social media to air out ones views. This will never change,” he said, “As Governor, Senator and now as @SPNigeria [Senate President], I have never attempted to stifle anyone’s freedom to speak his [or] her mind. This will not change.”
The President of the Senate also said: “As a public servant who has subjected myself in the service of my country, I face criticism everyday from many quarters. Criticism does not deter me from serving my country. I learn from constructive criticism. It inspires me to continue working.”
Following the completion of the Constitution Review Exercise at the Senate this week, Saraki also reassured the public that he and his colleagues in the 8th National Assembly would continue to work towards accomplishing a legislative agenda that will improve the state of the nation.
“My colleagues and I will continue to work to pass legislations that will make life better for all Nigerians,” the President of the Senate tweeted.
In another development, Saraki has pledged to contribute to the spinal cord corrective surgery for a six-year old boy, Ali Ahmadu, ran over by Boko Haram terrorists.
According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Mohammed Isa, the Senate President made the pledge when the victim was presented to him in Abuja by officials of the Global Initiative For Peace, Love and Care (GIPLC), an NGO spearheading the campaign for his medical care.
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The President of the Senate, while sympathising with Ali and his parents, promised to mobilise his colleagues to offset the balance of the cost of the treatment after the group has collected donations from members of the public.
The NGO had told Saraki that it had already commenced soliciting for donations from corporate bodies and individuals on behalf of the kid.
He said, “this is not just what we must be seen to be doing, this is all about serving people. It will be a great joy for us to have someone like Ali back to normal life. My colleagues and I will contribute whatever the shortfall of what you will raise in form of donations to make sure he is given adequate medical attention.
“Ali is not like many kids that are not fortunate to survive Boko Haram attacks; and as a society that keeps seeking for foreign assistance, we ourselves should be able to do things like this ourselves. This is an opportunity for us to show our compassion to the victims of Boko Haram.
“We will continue to work harder to bring an end to this crises in the North East so as to bring an end to the issue of humanitarian and food crises there.”
Earlier, the GIPLC Coordinator, Nuhu Kwajafa, said young Ali, who hails from Chibok town in Borno State was run over by Boko Haram vehicle when they invaded the town three years ago.
Kwajafa said the NGO, consulted several hospitals in United States, India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the treatment of Ali.
A total bill of N9 million, Kwajafa said, was forwarded by a hospital in UAE for the treatment that prompted a campaign to raise the required funds for the surgery to enable the boy walk again.
