uABUJA — Senators belonging to the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, and their All Progressives Congress, APC,
were, yesterday, preparing for a showdown over different
positions on the confirmation of two of 16 remaining
ministerial nominees.
It was, however, learnt that Senate President Bukola
Saraki was determined to weigh in on behalf of the former
governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and the
ministerial nominee from Cross River State, Usani Uguru.
The duo had been caught up in a grudge war mounted by PDP senators.
Amaechi is held
in contempt by
the PDP Senate
caucus for his
role in the
defeat of the
former ruling
party in the last
round of
elections. Uguru
brought himself
into the bad book of the PDP Senate caucus when, during
his screening, he said “God forbid” to a question as to his
membership of the PDP.
Following the end of the screening of the nominees
yesterday, the PDP Senate caucus held a meeting where
they reportedly took a position against the confirmation of
Amaechi. The senators were said to have resolved not to
consider Amaechi’s nomination unless the report of the
Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges on the
petitions filed against the former Rivers State governor
was brought forward for consideration first.
Last five nominees screened
Five nominees were screened, yesterday, bringing to an
end, the exercise that commenced about three weeks ago.
The five nominees screened were former Vice-Chancellor
of Imo State University, Professor Anthony Anwuka (Imo);
financial expert and medical doctor, Okechukwu
Enelamah (Abia); newspaper columnist, Adamu Adamu
(Bauchi); former Executive Secretary of National Hajj
Commission, Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa), and
Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto).
However, the confirmation exercise which was expected to
commence immediately after, did not, as Senate President
Saraki announced the adjournment of the Senate to
today.
PDP senators sulk, plan offensive
PDP senators are also said to have been further miffed by
the reverses suffered by the party in Rivers State in the
last one week, including the cancellation of Governor
Nyesom Wike’s election and that of PDP state legislators,
and Tuesday’s Supreme Court’s rejection of Wike’s bid to
negate the sitting of the Governorship Election Tribunals
in Abuja.
Although they refused to address the media after their
meeting which lasted for just thirty minutes, some
members, who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of
anonymity said the meeting resolved that before the
confirmation, the Samuel Anyanwu-led Senate Committee
on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions’ report, must be
considered.
One of the sources also said the PDP senators, in the
meeting, resolved not to allow Pastor Usani Uguru to be
confirmed today. He described Uguru as a light-hearted
man who cannot be entrusted with any sensitive public
office like the one he was nominated for.
Also, at the meeting, the PDP senators, according to one
of them, vowed to withdraw their support for the Senate
President should he force Amaechi’s confirmation.
Vanguard gathered that another meeting of the PDP
caucus would be held before the confirmation.
APC senators plan counter-action
APC senators have equally scheduled a caucus meeting
this morning before commencement of plenary where
they are also expecting to fine-tune their strategies to
push through all the nominees. The confirmation process
is expected to hold today if enough APC senators are
present in the chambers to outplay the PDP senators.
In that event, the Senate would first go into a closed-door
session during which senators would raise issues about
the nominees. Following the closed-door session the
senators would resort back to plenary where a voice vote
would be taken on each of the nominees.
The ruling of the Senate President would be final and can
only be challenged when a senator calls for a division and
it is at this point that PDP senators may challenge
whatever decision Senator Saraki takes on Amaechi and
Uguru.
Only one of the nominees screened yesterday, Aisha
Abubakar, daughter of former super permanent secretary
and minister, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji was waved through
without a question. She was asked to take a bow and go
upon submission by Senator Abiodun Olujimi.
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