The Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Tuesday pointed out that the National Assembly was not only a place meant to be accessed by Managing Directors and heads of big corporations alone, but for all Nigerians irrespective of their status in life.
Speaking when ace musician/artiste, Mr. Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, aka Patoranking, who visited him in his office, Saraki said he was satisfied with the works of Nigerian artistes and urged them to remain good ambassadors of the country.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, quoted the Senate President as pledging the support of the legislature to help Nigerian artistes boost their performance and to inspire upcoming artistes and the younger generation.
Saraki said, “We want to encourage you to be a good ambassador not only for the youths but the entire country at this moment in time. We believe the best is in this country because we have a lot of talents out there and that it is our responsibility to get all that talent out – those who are already doing well, to get them to do better and place Nigeria as No. 1 in everything that we are doing.
“A lot of us are proud of what you guys are doing in the entertainment, music and the film industry. You have already put this country out there. I was saying to my own kids that in our time, all we listened to were foreign music, now they don’t even listen to foreign music, they listen more to local music.
Saraki said the strides recorded by Nigerian artistes was a great transformation which ought to be commended by all.
‘‘You guys are doing a lotto change this country. You have changed Nigeria for good and I think this is what we should all be proud of. On our part, we will continue to support you, in our own way, to encourage, promote and give you recognition so that many people watching you and those coming behind you will be inspired”.
Earlier, Patoranking appreciated Saraki and the leadership of the Senate for the warm reception and said he was proud of the opportunity he was given to visit the Parliament which he said was one of the ways of bridging the gap between Nigerian leaders and the youths.
Patoranking was accompanied on the visit by son of the Adamawa State Governor, Farouk Bindowo.