MY SUCCESS DEPENDS ON THE N'ASSEMBLY – JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said that the success of his administration depended on the cooperation of the National Assembly.

A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, said that Jonathan spoke at a reception for the leadership of the Senate led by the Senate President, David Mark, at the State House, Abuja.

He commended the support and cooperation that his administration had been receiving from the National Assembly.

Noting that the cooperation of the three arms of government was crucial to delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians, Jonathan called for continued support of the legislature, especially in the areas of budgetting; the management of the economy; cutting down on costs; blocking areas of wastage; and getting 'value for money spent.'

The President also attributed the democratic stability of the Fourth Republic to the position the National Assembly took in February to make him the Acting President, while then President Umaru Yar'Adua was on medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking on the uncertainty that hovered over the country during Yar'Adua's 93-day medical trip, he said, 'Many speculated that Nigeria was going to split, but you proved them wrong,' he said.

Jonathan, who noted that before he died, Yar'Adua 'meant well for Nigeria and Africa.' He thanked the National Assembly for speedily clearing Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who was also at the reception.

Speaking on the occasion, Mark explained that the senators' visit was based on a resolution of the Senate during the valedictory session in honour of the late president, to the effect that delegations be sent to Katsina to commiserate with the Yar'Adua family, and another to condole with Jonathan, the Federal Executive Council and the Nigerian people.

The Senate President commended the cordial relationship based on mutual understanding and respect which existed between the late president and Jonathan, leading to a peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, among other achievements.

Mark expressed confidence in the success of the electoral reform programme.

Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, he said the ongoing electoral reforms embarked upon by the National Assembly was on course.

'We will have the electoral reforms in place, we will have the new Act in place before the 2011 elections; and whatever reform we put in place can be used for the 2011 general elections.

'We are also very anxious about the reform too, we are also concerned about credible elections. We are the ones directly affected by the reforms and we are working very hard to get it done with.'