Reported Rift Between Executive, Legislature Mere Conjectures, Says Enang

• Urges Nominees To Interact With Their Senators
THE Senior Special  Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, yesterday described the reported rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the Senate as mere speculations. Enang also said the meeting held during the week between the National Assembly members and Mr. President has brought all the speculations under control.

“I am sure that you can begin to feel the political temperature that has descended in the mind and psyche of Nigerians that the relationship between the executive and the legislature which was thought to be on heat, has been fully perfectly and effectively restored and the public is now aware.

“I want to say that the reports in the media that there was a rift between the executive and the legislature were actually conjectures; there was no rift in the first place. But I am sure that the meeting, as it was stated by the Senate  President, really  proved that there were no rift.

“Of course, you heard and remember that the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, had  said that those small talks were the things that were taken by the public to mean that there were crisis, there were divisions”, Enang said.

He added:  “I am sure if you interview Nigerians on the streets, you will know that there is a perfect understanding that there is a good relationship between the executive and the legislature”.

Speaking on the scheduled screening exercise, which begins next Tuesday, Enang maintained that the legislature retains the power to screen and confirm ministers and as such, it behoves on the nominees to adhere to stipulated instructions so as not to be rejected.

He therefore urged nominees to meet and consult with their respective Senators who are the primary sponsors to ensure everything falls in place.”We have emphasized that they have to consult, they have to go and meet their respective Senators  because they are their representatives. The President nominated them to the Senators, the Senators representing their respective states are their first line of defence, they are their immediate sponsors and they have to show absolute respect to all the Senators and every other thing will fall in line.

“My job is to relate with the Senate on matters that proceed from the President and the ministry and to create a good working relationship between the President, the Vice President, all officers of the executive and the leadership of the Senate and the entire National Assembly.

“The Senate is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate is free to set its criteria for the screening of the nominees appearing before it.

“Our job will be to work with the respective Senators and work with the respective nominees to make sure that the Senators are satisfied and so that they can agree with the nominations. We will not dispute with the Senate on what they want because it absolutely lies in the heart and minds of the respective and distinguished Senators to determine what to ask.

“You cannot limit the questions that you can ask a nominee. The Senators are free and the nominees will be free to answer the questions.  So, the Senators are within their rights to request what they want”, Enang added.