By Ezrel Tabiowo
Abuja
Ahead of today’s likely submission of the ministerial list to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari, there are strong indications that the lawmakers may go tough on the nominees during the mandatory screening exercise.
This indication was given yesterday by the Senate’s spokesman, Senator Dino Melaye who told journalists in Abuja, shortly after plenary that the era of the traditional ‘bow and go’ often granted some individuals believed to be above aboard, was over.
This was just as 83 Senators endorsed and passed a vote of confidence on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and other principal officers of the Eighth Senate.
According to Melaye, the Senate would only confirm ministerial nominees who passed the due diligence bar set by the upper chamber, adding that ‘the era of bow is over.”
Earlier, Senate President Saraki had welcomed his colleagues back from the long recess , intimating them that the Senate was yet to receive any official communication
from President Buhari on the ministerial list.
He said: “The biggest challenge faced by our country today is the state of our economy. The dwindling oil revenue has brought enormous shock to our economy and greatly limited the capacity of government at various levels to meet even basic commitments.
“Our country has gone through periods of recession in the past. What we face today is however unprecedented in ramification and potential in gravity. We must think hard and work hard with the executive to achieve greater clarity in policy direction and interventions.”
Meanwhile, of the 109 membership of the Red Chamber, 83 senators unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Saraki and other principal officers of the National Assembly, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and other principal officials.
This followed a motion by David Umaru (APC, Niger East) and seconded by Ahmed Sanni (Zamfara Central).
A list of the senators made available to our correspondent showed that out of the 83 lawmakers that sponsored the motion, 48 were PDP members, while 35 came from the APC .
Umaru said “the Senate shall not allow itself to be distracted, deterred, or succumb to cheap blackmail in the course of carrying out its constitutional responsibilities by any individual or group of people under any pretence or guise for personal political interest.”
Prominent among PDP members on the list were former Senate President, David Mark, Godswill Akpabio, Jonah Jang, Theodore Orji while APC senators included: Shehu Sani, Adamu Aliero, Bukar Ibrahim, Kabiru Gaya.
However, the chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Jide Omoworare (Osun East), said he was not notified of the motion, asking that his name be struck out from the list.
However, upon passage of the motion, a drama played out when Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), who came under Order 53 Rule 5 of the Senate standing Orders, opposed the senate president in a loud tone challenging him for not allowing him speak.
An infuriated Marafa raged out of control despite attempts by Isah Misau (APC, Bauchi Central) to caution him against disobeying the Senate President.
Although Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu, apologised to Nigerians over the development, the Senate, however, cautioned that this will be the last time the Red chamber won’t condone such behaviour, threatening to mete out disciplinary measure to anyone who puts up such a conduct in future.
In another development, some protesters besieged the National Assembly Complex in Abuja yesterday, calling on the Presidency not to victimise the Senate leadership.
The two groups, Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo Youth movement and Coalition of Civil Society Media Executives (COCMEP), with placards of various inscriptions, asked the Senate president not to resign, contrary to call from certain quarters.
