Senators belonging to the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, October 29, staged a walk out over the
confirmation of one of the ministerial nominee, Rotimi Amaechi after returning
from the closed session.
The senate went into an executive session after the confirmation of Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and five commissioners.
The closed session which lasted for about an hour was
to discuss the confirmation of the 18 ministerial nominees.
The nominees include Rotimi Amaechi, Mansur Muhammed
Dan Ali, Usani Usani Uguru, Okechukwu Enelamah, Anwuka Gozie, Muhammed Bello,
Adamu Adam and Aisha Abubakar.
Others are Adebayo Shittu, Khadija Ibrahim, Heineken
Lokpobiri, Claidius Daramola, Baba Shehuri Mustapha,Ocholi Enojo James, Adewole
Folorunso,Bawa Bwari and Geoffrey Onyeama.
The chairman of the committee on ethics, privileges
and public petition, Sam Anyawu (Imo east senatorial district) presented the
report on the petitions against Amaechi on corruption.
He also said it is not in the place of the senate to
start the confirmation process at all.
The senate leader, Ali Ndume who raised a motion for
the lawmakers to confirm Amaechi due to the fact that his case was still in
court and should not be discussed.
George Sekibo (Rivers state) said: “We represent
the majority of the Nigerian people. The report laid here was on allegations on
corruption and selling of public assets. There is no way anyone can ammend a
committes report because it is not a motion.”
Meanwhile, some lawmakers countered the confirmation
of Amaechi stressing that any case in the court of law should not be discussed.
Babajide Omoworare representing Osun state who
seconded the motion by Ndume argued that in a committee of the whole, a
recommendation can be amended.
Biodun Olujimi who stood up to counter the
confirmation of Amaechi said: “There is a moral burden of anyone who is
riding on corruption.
“There is a need that the court of law must clear
him before Amaechi is confirmed,” she said.
Godswill Akpabio, the minority Senate leader and
former Akwa Ibom state governor said there was nothing wrong if the
confirmation of Rotimi Amaechi was suspended.
Briefing newsmen after the members of the PDP staged a
walk out against Amaechi’s confirmation, Akpabio expressed his disappointment
in the members of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress(APC), saying they
breached the Nigerian constitution and will not be a part of it.
He went ahead to say that although it was the first
time the PDP members have staged a walkout, it was embarrassing for the country
the watch the Senate in disarray.
“The issues brought against the nominee were issues
that were brought upon.
“The majority party felt there was no need to comply
to the law and it would have been a good idea to allow the senate to go into
the matter and we will not partake in that type of thing,” he said.
Amaechi’s nomination as minister
by President Muhammadu Buhari was met with strong criticism. Amaechi was accused looting and fraud while he was governor of Rivers
state, and his nomiation was opposed in a petition to the Senate by
three PDP senators from the state.
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Source: Naij.com
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