Events of the last few weeks have given Nigerians ample opportunity to see the quality and make of the 8th National Assembly, especially the senate, under the leadership of its chairman and President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

If anything, the screening of ministerial nominees by the senate, which many had expected to be a source of acrimony given the several divisions that had emerged within the body of the ruling APC in the upper chamber, went on so smoothly and has become a benchmark for similar legislative activities. Nigerians are thrilled, and the voice of Alhaji Lai Mohammed, national spokesman of the APC, can be said to be the consensus of all Nigerians, that the exercise has indicated that the APC now has a very united house. And that is in the interest of our national polity.

And that is where the maturity and political sagacity of the senate president comes into consideration. He led a divided house to perform a national assignment with standing ovation!

Not a few had speculated that he would use the opportunity to take his pound of flesh from those he had openly accused of working to frame him before the law for not acceding to their political dictation but throughout the proceeding Saraki promoted unity, he never did the evil many expected he would do. He demonstrated again his constant claim that the Nigerian project is far greater than the ambition of any individual, no matter how highly placed.

Recall the screening of the candidate from his own state, Kwara, Alhaji Lai Mohammed again. To think that Mohammed was not picked by President Muhammad Buhari from the core of what is known as the Saraki political structure which is controlled by the senate president and which was used to win the elections not only in the state but in the north central zone, it became amazing how Saraki worked to ensure the nominee had a smooth sail such that at the end he enjoyed the privilege of being asked to take a bow and go.

If the opposition had been allowed, they probably would have thwarted the screening of the APC spokesman, they would probably have been delighted to have him for lunch, if only to avenge the many ways the nominee had troubled them when the PDP was the party in power. It would have been sweet revenge on their part and even if they would not have been able to stop his nomination, they could at least have made him to sweat somewhat for all his past (mis)deeds against the PDP. But Saraki at the chair with his deft use of parliamentary tact, stopped that!

Saraki the consensus builder was also on display at the proceedings. He was able to smoothly placate his colleagues in the PDP whenever they felt offended by some remarks by few of the nominees either by directly apologising or prompting the nominees to apologise. And even the case of Rotimi Amaechi for which the PDP staged a walk-out, it was not because the senate leadership shut them up on the matter. Saraki ensured that the opposition explored all avenues to air its view as a minority in the chamber before throwing the vote to the majority who expectedly had their way. At the end of the day, the minority had their say and the majority had their way. That is the beauty of democracy.

Just as he promised, the senate leadership made the screening very transparent and responsive to public opinion. A day after the first set of nominees had appeared, Saraki was on twitter and other social media platform to review the exercise and seeing what Nigerians were saying, promised to upgrade the exercise to satisfy Nigerians. And he did! This was perhaps the first time that Nigerians would have a substantial involvement in the screening of ministers and the credit goes to the 8th senate under the astute Saraki. Definitely there would be some issues over the exercise which critics can hang on. And it is not unexpected given several factors including the fact that some aspects of the procedures were firsts in the history of the parliament and more importantly because they were done by humans working with human institutions both of which are never perfect!

But nobody can fault the fact that this exercise has shown Saraki as truly a true and committed APC man. Any talk about disloyalty pales into infinitesimal when his attitude, comportment, negotiations and maturity displayed during the screening come into the bigger picture of securing for Nigerians a team of ministers who would work with Mr. President to effect the change we all sang about during the campaign. It takes a true bridge-builder to lead a body like the senate, particularly the current senate which from the two times they have taken a confidence vote in favour of their president, are telling Nigerians that once inside that hallowed red chamber, they are patriots and not politicians. This is one reason I, like most Nigerians, believe that the current political trial of the senate president and former governor of Kwara State should be aborted, at least to allow the red chamber concentrate more on deepening democracy.

To the senate president, I salute his sagacity, courage and uncommon loyalty to the Nigeria project. His independence and freedom typical of a Sagittarius may be a source of concern to a few political blocks, but a Sagittarius also crave adventure and excitement and welcome change with open arms. The current travail and seeming persecution should be seen as path heroes must meander in the journey to greatness. Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ went through more difficult periods even the hands of their friends and communities but survived by the grace and guidance of the Almighty.

Prophet Muhammad was stoned in Taif where he had migrated after persecution in Mecca. He looked up unto Allah raised his hands and prayed: "Oh Allah, to You I complain the weakness of my power, and lack of my trick, and my shame before people. Oh, the most Gracious, You are my lord, to who would you refer me? To a far (relative) who will molest me, or to an enemy who you empowered over me? But I care not if his anger doesn't affect me because Your good tidings are sufficient for me. I seek refuge with the light of Your might from all sort of darkness. The light with which you order this life and the hereafter. I seek refuge from your anger and punishment. I will never depart from you until you are happy with me because there is no power or might except with you". This is supplication to Allah for the Senate President.

Oba, Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, writes from Ilorin.