Ahead of today’s unveiling of President Muhammadu Buhari’s list of ministerial nominees at the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly, there were indications yesterday that some of the nominees had commenced an intense lobby to ensure that they have a smooth passage during their screening and confirmation.
New Telegraph investigations revealed that some of the nominees had, over the weekend, reached out to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to prevail on his colleagues to grant them easy passage. “Some of the ministerial nominees have spoken to Saraki and I can assure you that the Senate President is reaching out to his colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure that the president’s nominees sail through.
“A couple of the ministerial nominees have visited Saraki in his Abuja residence to enlist his support. Some of the governors have also put in a word to the senators through senators from their states. “You will see that the Senate President demonstrates his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) by ensuring a rancour- free screening,” an aide of the Senate President told New Telegraph.
It was also gathered that a number of the nominees have reached out to the senators from their states of origin whose endorsement or rejection of names from their districts could make or break the chances of such nominees. One of the ministerial nominees confirmed to New Telegraph that he had reached out to the three senators from his state. “As a mark of respect, I have called my senator representing my district and the two senators from the state.
Don’t forget that we belonged to different political parties. So, I have to seek their cooperation,” the ministerial nominees from one of the Southern states confirmed to one of our correspondents. New Telegraph learnt that some of the nominees were afraid of being sacrificed on the altar of politics because of the roles they had played in recent years and, therefore, wanted Saraki’s assurance that the screening process would be fair and that senators would not be allowed to place unnecessary obstacles on the paths of nominees on account of differences in political affiliations.
A source hinted New Telegraph that a particular nominee from one of the South-West states had been apprehensive following subtle threats from the governor of his state as well as the senators from that state to frustrate his bid to join the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in the new dispensation.
Another nominee who served as governor of one of the South-South states has also expressed similar fears and had reached out to Saraki to soften the grounds, and if need be, resort to the David Mark strategy of over-ruling legislators who might want to unduly frustrate a nominee during the screening exercise.
Although, the list is yet to be made public, the ministerial nominees had already been communicated and a good number of them have relocated to Abuja to pull the necessary strings. The Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, personally called all the ministerial nominees to intimate them about their selection.
Meanwhile, some senators yesterday gave insight into what the screening and confirmation process might look like in the red chamber. The senators, who spoke with one of our correspondents, gave what could be considered terms and conditions that would guide the exercise.
In separate interviews, the parliamentarians made it clear that any list that does not cover the 36 states of the Federation will suffer serious opposition on the floor because the constitution, under the principle of federal character, provides that the 36 states be equitably represented in ministerial appointments. Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia North) said that the expectation of senators was that the list should be complete in line with the constitution. “Constitution does not support ministers by batches.
Every state must be represented, but if the number is not complete, some of us may raise constitutional issues. Else, if we have to wait for another three months for him to send another list comprising representatives of other states, it means those states would be nonfunctional,” he said.
On the issue of petitions against some nominees, Ohuabunwa noted that such issues would not be ignored in the process of screening. According to him, since the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration would want to be remembered for curbing corruption, it would be a contrast to overlook any case of corruption levelled against any nominee. He said: “This government wants to be remembered for fighting corruption and it will be against the Senate to see a strong petition about corruption and ignore it. “Even if it means writing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to give us report, we will do so.”
He noted that “screening is not a tea party and only trusted nominees with element of serious and in-depth knowledge would be confirmed.” On the existing tradition of asking some nominees to take a bow and go,Ohuabunwa said it was assumed that the Senate would be guided by the constitution and the rule of the Senate.
“We have resolved to be stringent. Whosoever would be coming should be someone who has a track record. However, being a former lawmaker shows you are qualified, but you will still be expected to answer some questions. “The screening would be done in accordance with the law and if any nominee has any skeleton in his cupboard, we will send him back to the president,” he said. The lawmaker said Buhari couldn’t be the Minister of Petroleum, saying, “He can supervise ministries, but cannot be a minister because if he is, he must be screened and approved by the Senate.”
Similarly, Senator Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger state) said the Senate would do a thorough job in the screening of the would-be ministers. Abdullahi said: “The Senate will be guided by the laws of the land. We want this government to succeed and we will do everything within our jurisdiction to ensure that the change Nigerians voted for is delivered to them.
“We will not be vindictive; we will not witchhunt anybody, but we will be thorough and patriotic in carrying out this very important assignment, so that only men and women of credible record will be appointed to serve Nigerians under the APC government.
“President Buhari is a man of principle and unquestionable credentials. Therefore, we will use our good offices as senators of the Federal Republic to approve those nominees that will not bring a dent or shame to his government.” It will be recalled that the Senate President received the list of ministerial nominees sent to the Senate for screening by President Buhari last Wednesday.
The list was submitted in a sealed envelope delivered by the Chief of Staff to the President, Kyari and Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters (Senate). Saraki, following the tradition of the Senate, resolved that the envelope would remain sealed till today when, during the plenary sitting of the upper legislative chamber, it would be opened and the list read to Senators.
Those said to be on the ministerial list are former Governors Chris Ngige, Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola and Ogbonaya Onu. Others are Senator Aisha Al-Hassan, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), Senator Sirika Hadi, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma, Alhaji Ahmed Isa Ibeto and Chief Audu Ogbeh. Also included in the list are Ms. Amina Mohammed, Lt.-Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau, Osagie Ehanire, Ibrahim Jibril, Sulaiman Adamu and Solomon Dalong.
However, Nigerians have been enjoined to trust President Buhari in his choice of candidates and the promise to send a second batch of the nominees soon. Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, told our correspondent yesterday that President Buhari remained a man of his words and will not renege on his promise to nominate additional names for confirmation by the Senate. According to Adesina, “Nigerians should trust their president. He is a man of his words and has promised that he will send a second list of ministers to the National Assembly. ”
The first list will only be unveiled tomorrow (today).” In a related development, a ministerial nominee from Oyo State, Barrister Adebayo Shittu has lampooned the Oyo State APC for kicking against his nomination. The APC had, yesterday, published an advertorial in two newspapers rejecting Shittu as a representative of the state.
The advertorial was signed by the APC state chairman and secretary, Akin Oke and Mojeed Oloye respectively. But Shittu, a two-time commissioner and former member of the old Oyo State House of Assembly, described the position of the party chieftains as misleading and against the interest of the larger majority of the residents of the state. He maintained that all what the party officials made reference to in the open letter were intraparty squabbles, some of which Mr. President himself, intervened to get them resolved.
Describing his nomination as one of the best things that could happen to Oyo State, he said this was the first time a thorough-bred and grassroots politician would be nominated to represent the state as against the previous arrangement when those appointed had no grassroots appeal.
He even challenged the party officials to produce the results of the last elections in their wards and local governments and put them side by side with what he was able to turn in from his Saki-West Local Government Area of the state, which produced one of the best results for the party. ”
By the grace of Almighty Allah, I’m going to be the Minister of the Federal Republic and I owe it a duty to work in synergy with the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who I hold in a high esteem to ensure that our state gets its due at the federal level,” Shittu maintained.
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