Nigeria’s Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of former Governor of Rivers State, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as a minister of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during a stormy session.Seventeen other ministerial nominees including Mallam Adamau Adamu, Aisha Abubakar among others were also confirmed by the Senate under the leadership of Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The confirmation of all other nominees who had earlier been screened was carried out relatively smoothly.But fresh hints emerged afterward that the closed -door session which the Senate embarked upon earlier in the day, after confirming INEC Chairman and National Commissioners, could not reach a bi-partisan agreement on the nomination of Amaechi.The Senate Minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio soon after the senate resumed plenary, drew attention to the fact that the Senate should consider the issue of any nominee who has a petition against him.
When it was time to confirm Amaechi, the Senate Committee on Ethics read out the summary of its recommendations which highlighted the fact that the petition against Amaechi was before a competent court of law and that the committee suggested that his confirmation should be put on hold. And a stormy debate ensured.
PDP Senators Stage Walk Out
But the Senate turned rowdy as PDP senators seemed to be kicking against Amaechi’s confirmation. As it became evident that the APC Senators led by Bukola would go ahead to confirm Amaechi, PDP Senators staged a walk out.However the APC senators who still had a quorum proceeded with the Senate session.They rejected the Ethics Committee’s report on Amaechi and subsequently confirmed him as a minister along with others.Perhaps, those who have argued earlier that Saraki has his mind in PDP may have a rethink after watching the proceedings at the Senate on Thursday.With Thursday’s session, the Senate has confirmed the screening and confirmation of all the nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.
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