READ: Senate President Saraki's Full Acceptance Speech

Senator Bukola Saraki has been elected as the President of the 8th Senate.

Saraki was unanimously elected as Senate President today, June 9, 2015, by 57 out of 108 Senators.

Read his acceptance speech below:

“I am most honoured and privileged to be elected to serve as President of the Senate. I accept with humility and respect the honour you have conferred upon me today.”

“We have today demonstrated that even though we may belong to different parties, we are ultimately united by our common desire to entrench democracy and allow its principle guide our conducts.”

“The change that our people voted for is a change from a life of poverty, misery to a life of prosperity, happiness, security and comfort, accountability and respect for democracy.”

“This is a change that all of us in the National Assembly must strive to justify. Nigerians want to see a proactive National Assembly.”

“My dear distinguished colleagues, we are entering at a time when a lot is being expected of us.”

“Nigerians expect that the new senate must make laws that will reform the oil sector, the security systems, diversify our economy, create jobs and make doing business in Nigeria more competitive.”

“In the coming days, we shall be converging to hammer out an agenda that will help us focus and deliver on the minimum expectations. I have inherited from my predecessor a great landmark.”

“May the future generation of citizens look upon the 8th National Assembly as a true assembly of our people’s representatives who did their best in the service of our nation.”

“I congratulate ourselves for this great day and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of our great Nation.”