Senator Adams Oshiomhole has rebuffed claims that the 10th National Assembly is a “rubber stamp,” asserting lawmakers were not elected for confrontation
NASS Rubber Stamp accusations have drawn a strong response from Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Also read: Tinubu’s Solo Endorsement Triggers Backlash as Pary Leaders Snub Shettima
He fired back at critics branding the 10th National Assembly as subservient, insisting that lawmakers were not elected to engage in a brawl with President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during a live programme on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Sunday, the former Edo State governor and current senator representing Edo North dismissed the label as not only unfair but also a profound misrepresentation of the role of legislators in a democracy.
Oshiomhole challenged the basis of the criticism directly. He asked pointedly, “There’s a perception that the National Assembly is a rubber stamp? So if we start boxing the presidency just to prove independence, then we become a bunch of rascals. Is that what we were elected for, to go and box?”
He further challenged critics to cite any specific law or policy endorsed by the Assembly that runs counter to the national interest.
Tell me, which law have we rubber stamped that is harmful to Nigerians? Just name one that passed without robust debate.
Oshiomhole also highlighted several interventions made by lawmakers. These include issues he personally raised about the alleged extortion of Nigerians by power distribution companies (DISCOs).
He argued that the legislative body is actively performing its oversight and representative duties. This remains true even if its approach does not always involve public confrontation.
Oshiomhole stated, “The notion that we must constantly oppose the executive to be seen as effective is flawed.”
He clarified, “We deliberate, we debate, and we make decisions based on merit, not on the optics of opposition.”
The senator’s remarks come amid growing public scrutiny of the 10th Assembly’s perceived alignment with the presidency.
Also read: Alia defends Tinubu as Benue expresses shock from herder massacres
This criticism has sparked extensive debates about legislative independence and the crucial role of democratic checks and balances.