Saraki, Lawan’s Portraits Missing In Senate Gallery
The National Assembly has failed to display the portraits of Bukola Saraki and Ahmad Lawan, the former Presidents of the Senate, in the photo gallery of the upper legislative wing, six years and six months after they left office respectively.
Saraki and Lawan were both elected as Senate Presidents in June 2015 and June 2019, amid fierce political battles within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the tradition of the National Assembly, the portraits of the Senate Presidents are supposed to be mounted in the gallery as soon as they vacate office, along with those of the Speakers of the House of Representatives in the lower chamber.
However, Saraki’s portrait is still conspicuously absent from the gallery of former Senate Presidents, while Lawan’s portrait is also yet to be placed.
A source from the National Assembly management told Daily Sun that no official reason was given for the omission of Saraki and Lawan’s portraits, which has sparked criticism from many lawmakers.
Some legislators accused Lawan of deliberately blocking the installation of Saraki’s portrait, due to their political rivalry. However, Lawan himself has now fallen victim to the same treatment.
The source declined to comment further on the matter, which has raised questions about the respect and recognition of the former leaders of the National Assembly.
