Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has urged members of the National Assembly to place national interest above partisan politics, saying history will remember them more for the principled positions they take on critical national issues than for the number of bills they sponsor.
Sani made the call on Tuesday while speaking at the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, an annual initiative aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and citizens' engagement with the legislature by providing the public with direct access to parliamentary activities.
Addressing serving lawmakers, the former senator reminded them that the offices they occupy come with enormous responsibility and that their decisions would leave lasting impressions on future generations.
He stressed that legislative success should not be measured solely by the volume of bills passed or oversight functions performed but by the courage and integrity displayed in addressing matters of national importance.
"We will not be remembered by the laws we passed. We will not be remembered by the oversight functions we performed. We will not even be remembered simply because we won elections and served here. We will be remembered for the positions we took on matters of controversy and issues that were sensitive to our nation," Sani said.
According to him, while many lawmakers had served in the National Assembly before the present assembly and many more would do so in the future, what would endure was the legacy of their actions and the values they upheld while in office.
"There are thousands who served before us and have left, and there will be many more after us. We will not always be here, but our children and future generations will remember us by the mark we made in this parliament," he added.
Sani further urged legislators to remain patriotic and defend the country's image whenever it comes under attack.
"Nigeria is a great country, and we should be proud of it. Whenever people try to criminalise our country, you must stand tall and defend the dignity and integrity of Nigeria," he said.
The National Assembly Open Week is an annual programme designed to foster closer interaction between lawmakers and the public, enhance transparency in legislative processes, and deepen citizens' participation in democratic governance.
