Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday, called on former members of the National Assembly to help defend the nation’s democracy.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja, Saraki made the call when the chairman, Save Nigeria Group Africa and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Ghali Na'Abba, led other members of the group to visit the Senate president.

While commending the initiative of setting up the group and its plan to organise a national political summit next year, to address some critical challenges in the polity, Saraki stated that it has become imperative not to allow the nation’s democracy to fail. He, therefore, charged the group – which comprises mainly ex-federal legislators – to continue to avail the present National Assembly leadership with their experience and suggestions towards enacting relevant laws for the benefit of Nigerians.

He said: “I want to commend your initiative for setting up this group on an agenda to consolidate the gains of our democracy rather than taking it for granted. This initiative on your part is truly commendable. Our democracy must not fail. We must defend it. We must do our best to ensure that we continue with the best practices. We must defend this institution. We must ensure that the institution gets stronger.”

Earlier, leader of the delegation, Na’Abba, stated that the Save Democracy Group Africa was established last year during a turbulent period in the nation’s political history with a “vision to evolve a united, peaceful and democratic Nigeria guided by the principle of equity, fairness and rule of law.”

He said the group would organise its maiden Annual National Political Summit in January, as part of efforts to promote enduring democracy, stabilise the polity and promote the enthronement of internal democracy in the existing political parties.

Na’Abba used the opportunity to congratulate Dr Saraki on the many successes he has achieved so far since his emergence as the President of the 8th Senate.

•Photo shows Bukola Saraki.