Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has warned that unchecked power remains the greatest threat to democracy, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic system was deliberately designed to ensure that no arm of government operates without scrutiny.
Saraki, who spoke at The Platform in Lagos on Friday in commemoration of the Democracy Day celebration, said democracy only thrives when arms of government can check one another. He stressed that unchecked powers within the arms of government pose the greatest danger to any nation.
Saraki argued that the framers of Nigeria’s democratic system intentionally separated power among the executive, legislature, and judiciary to prevent the emergence of absolute authority.
“The greatest danger to a free people is an unchecked government; powers that answer to no one and authorities that cannot be questioned. Our democratic architects split power into three arms, made them independent, and empowered them to check one another. It created friction, but it guaranteed freedom,” he stated.
According to him, many Nigerians often misunderstand the nature of democratic governance by reducing power and governance to the office of the president alone, while overlooking the critical role of other institutions.
“Our democracy is often misunderstood. When Nigerians speak of power, they think of just one office – the presidency. The presidency dominates so completely that we sometimes think governance is the presidency and that the National Assembly is merely a nuisance institution,” he said.
The former Senate President described the legislature as the arm of government closest to the people, noting that its members derive their legitimacy directly from voters rather than appointments.
He said the National Assembly, comprising 469 elected lawmakers, carries the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians and serves as a platform where diverse interests and grievances can be expressed and resolved peacefully.
“The parliament provides an arena where a divided country can argue without breaking. A legislator who cannot say ‘no’ is not a legislator. A legislator who approves every proposal without scrutiny is not doing his job,” Saraki said.
He maintained that legislative oversight is essential to democratic governance, adding that lawmakers are often unfairly criticized for carrying out constitutional responsibilities, particularly in the budget process.
Saraki noted that the National Assembly is frequently accused of budget padding when it is merely exercising its constitutional powers to review and amend appropriation proposals submitted by the executive.
“The executive often finds it easier to set the narrative around budget passage, but the legislature has a constitutional duty to examine proposals and ensure they serve the interests of Nigerians,” he said.
He also cautioned against situations where the executive seeks to incur expenditure without legislative approval, stressing that public spending must remain subject to parliamentary oversight.
According to him, no country can build a sustainable democracy around a single office or individual, insisting that strong institutions, particularly a strong parliament, are indispensable to national development.
“Democracy is not built on a single office. There is nowhere in the world where a nation is built without a strong parliament.
“Strong institutions are the foundation of freedom, accountability, and good governance,” Saraki added.
