Ministerial list splits Senate
• Buhari lobbies as PDP senators doubt anti-graft war
• Screening begins on Tuesday
A CRACK seems to have appeared among Senators over confirmation of ministerial nominees following yesterday’s unveiling of the list transmitted to the upper chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.
Some senators are not comfortable with particular candidates while others fault the number.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has begun moves to reach out to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators with a view to persuading them to accept the 21 ministerial nominees President Muhammadu Buhari submitted to the Senate last week even as the upper chamber has fixed next Tuesday for their screening.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Solomon Ita Enang, who was in the office of the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio yesterday, disclosed that no matter what political differences there may be, the immediate concern is to ensure that there is minimal opposition to the President’s request.
Confirming his motive for meeting with Akpabio, Ita Enang said: “Part of our job is to reach out to all the sections. The past is gone, this is a new beginning,” he noted.
The PDP produced 49 of the 108 senators in the Senate at the moment.
Although, confirmation of a ministerial nominee requires only a simple majority, the Presidency is not taking any chances by assuming that all 59 senators of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) would vote in support of all the nominees.
This is mainly because there were issues of lack of consultation with relevant party stakeholders in the states before the list was compiled and submitted.
Shortly after the meeting between the two Akwa Ibom politicians, Akpabio promised to make efforts in ensuring the success of the Buhari administration.
He said: “We will do our best to ensure robust debate, fine-tune the policies of the APC administration to better the lot of Nigerians and to ensure that Nigeria gets out of the current economic doldrums.
“So far, on a personal note, I am impressed with the list that was sent by the President. I believe that he has kept his word by ensuring that we seek out people of integrity who can salvage the country. But of course, the Senate will still do its work of screening and re-screening and I pray that more than 70 or 80 per cent of the list should pass through.”
President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had formally read the list out to senators in plenary and directed the Clerk of the Senate, Adetutu Durojaiye to make relevant documents on all nominees, including their personal resumes, available to every senator before next Tuesday.
The first criticism had come from Akpabio who had drawn attention to the constitutional provision that all states of the federation be represented in the federal cabinet.
Akpabio’s submission which attracted support from many senators also expressed doubt regarding the capacity of some persons in the list to meet the expectation of Nigerians particularly with regard to the expected change which Buhari had promised.
Akpabio had argued that the submission of a partial list of ministerial nominees was clearly a breach of the constitution, pointing out that the Senate should ensure that the right step was taken by the President on the matter.
But hurriedly rising in defence of Buhari, Saraki urged his colleagues to be patient and trust the President on his promise to submit the list of the remaining nominees soon.
Those who made the list as read by Saraki yesterday are: Chris Ngige (Anambra); ( 2) Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) (3). Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) ; (4) Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); (5) Abdurrahman Dambazau (Kano);(6) Aisha AlHassan (Taraba);(7) Ogbonaya Onu (Ebonyi) (8) Kemi Adeosun (Ogun); (9) Abubakar Malami SAN (Kebbi); (10) Senator Sirika Hadi (Katsina); (11) Barrister Adebayo Shittu (Oyo); (12) Sulaiman Adamu (Jigawa); (13) Solomon Dalong (Plateau); (14) Ibe Kachikwu (Delta); (15) Osagie Ehanire (Edo); (16) Lai Mohammed (Kwara); (17) Udoma Udo-Udoma (Akwa Ibom); (18) Ahmed Isa Ibeto (Niger); (19) Ibrahim Jibril; (20) Audu Ogbeh (Benue) and (21) Aminu Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, the PDP said Tuesday that Buhari’s ministerial nominees, had ruined hopes by Nigerians of an early defeat of the evil of corruption from the system.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the party said: “By a mere look at the list, one can tell that there is nothing to be excited about, especially considering the length of time it took the president to come up with it. Looking at the list, it is hard to put a finger on why it should take any serious-minded and focused government, six months after its election to assemble such a regular team.”
The party added that ‘‘the list and the length of time it took have further confirmed the fact that the APC-led administration is driven by propaganda and deceit, a development that raises doubts on the sincerity of its anti-corruption crusade.”
While some senators commended Buhari for meeting his September deadline, others deplored him for taking so long only to recycle the same group of Nigerians whose dismal records are in the public domain.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP, Delta North, flayed Buhari for nominating someone who served as a minister in the Second Republic as well as former governors who just finished their eight-year tenures.
“I am short of words over the kind of candidates that made up the list. I did not see the saints we waited four months to get. These are people we know. So, I don’t understand if this is the change we anticipate or a retaliation. Let Nigerians be the judges.
“Nigerian youths need to ask some questions. Somebody who was a minister at the time of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was nominated by this administration for a ministerial job.
“One would have expected that the new breed should be injected into the system. When will the youths have the opportunity to serve the country? Nwaoboshi asked.
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20 Comments
Jonathan employed the services of the youth and what did Nigerians benefit from them? Nothing but they were only bastardized the economy.
Myopic opinion.
I’m afraid ur comment is completely off-topic sir. What has Jonathan got to do with it pls?
He scooped out buhari’s brain and planted akamu inside his skull.
Jonathan also used minsters and they also “bastardized the economy” which is why PMB doesn’t need ministers. Jonathan worked with the NASS and they basterdized the economy so we don’t need the NASS as well. Jonathan used men and women and they bastardized the economy so PMB must use robots. I get the logic.
you are funny. I like your statement, very pointed.
Even robots must be done away with. He will use ghosts to work.
But PMB could not meet his own self-imposed Sept deadline. The list only became available yesterday and it is only a partial list. For how much longer are we going to be celebrating mediocrity in this country? How can a man who cannot draw up a simple list of ministers after 11 years of running for office provide the kind of far-reaching changes that we yearn for?
For as long as listless ignoramus ask arsenine questions
The only person who was in politics at the time of SHagari was Audu Ogbeh, and despite the disappointment suffered by Balarabe Musa, he was the only one Balarabe felt was the most capable. You can see the irony
Corruption is being authorized here by Buhari,Nigerians are disillusioned,by nominating Amaechi Rotim,Fashola,Danbazzau,The truth is to be told,Tinubu`s amongst others,Dr.kachikwu Ibe Emmanuel THE NNPC MD/CEO is being tactically removed to give way to a NORTHERNERS to become the NNPC MD/CEO,nothing is hidden in his ministerial appointment,it is not because Buhari love more than his wife Aisha ,but making a way for his(BUHARI`S) stooge to head NNPC,i don`t see any person right now that is willing to help transform Nigeria from a corrupt state to a transparent nation in this dispensation,everybody ,like before want to get very rich.
Those who opposed president buhari list do not mean well for this country of ours. he formed a good team that will assist to deliver good government. As for the so called PDP, they have not yet recover from the pain of presidential defeat after ruining the nation for 16 years.
For our nation to improve, the people have to question every thing. people opposing his list doesn’t mean they don’t Nigeria to improve. The president used 4 months to produce a recycled list of people. where are the new idea, the fresh thinking.
Amaechi is a good team? Most of the noisermakers were pdp members until recently. Na wa for you oh! With some mean in that list, nobody needs an armed robber.
The ministerial list as submitted and unveiled by the Senate yesterday is one among so many disappointments the nation has to go through since the emergence of PMB. The same group could have had their names announced as minister nominees shortly on assumption of office. However, PMB choose to play on the intelligence of Nigerians by delay tactics. These certainly are not the men and women that the nation waited for this 4months for the president to assemble. The change mantra is nothing but deception galore.
Nigerian youths need to ask some questions. Somebody who was a minister at the time of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was nominated by this administration for a ministerial job.
“One would have expected that the new breed should be injected into the system. When will the youths have the opportunity to serve the country? Nwaoboshi asked.
That statement is straight to the point. we are recycling leaders over and over again. the only thing that prevent them from leading is death. when would more talented and fresh people come from. what the country lack is creative and innovative leaders, and this people don’t fix the bill. They have just being recycled.
The youths should start from being local government council men first. They cannot start running before they even learn how to walk. That is the problem with Nigeria. Nobody want to start from the beginning. It is always a mad rush to the finish line. Is it the youths who nominated Kashamu as their man of the year that will be nominated as ministers. Please let us be real for a moment.
Oh now PDP has the mouth to talk about Giving the Youths Opportunity hahahaha. Shame on You PDP.
If only you can hide your prejudice, you will definitely agree that pdp gave opportunities to the youth. Think of the Corps Marshall/Aviation Minister (Mr. Chidoka), the SAs on Youth Matters, SA on Agriculture from Kano State, and so many others. Call a spade a spade my friend.
Ita Enang is a disgrace for claiming that the nominated noise makers are credible including Anmaechi and Fayemi who have some corruption issues hanging on their necks. Serving his stomach instead of the nation.
We will review and take appropriate action.