Ministerial Nominee: PDP senators turn dumb during Amaechi screening

ABUJA — The controversy over the screening of erstwhile Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi as a minister, ended in an anti-climax yesterday, when seething senators of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP turned dumb to him.

Senate

The PDP caucus kept mum upon the determination of All Progressives Congress, APC Senate caucus for Amaechi, the director-general of the triumphant APC presidential campaign to be screened yesterday.

The path to his appearance which had in the past been laced with politics was agreed at a closed-door meeting of the Senate that preceded yesterday’s plenary.

At that session, the PDP senators it was gathered had again restated their opposition to the appearance of Amaechi, alleging that the issues of corruption raised against him had not been debated by the Senate.

That argument was, however, brushed aside by the APC senators most of who read politics into the opposition by the PDP, who they claimed wanted to punish Amaechi for his role in the emergence of the new leadership of the country.

Faced with the determination of the APC Senate caucus to forge ahead with the screening of the former governor, the PDP members it was gathered, were persuaded to backtrack on their earlier pledge of walking out. Rather, the PDP senators resolved not to ask Amaechi any question.

As the Senate resumed plenary, yesterday, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Senator Samuel Anyanwu laid the report of its investigations into the petition filed against Amaechi. The report was, however, not debated.

Following other preliminaries, the Senate upon a motion moved by the Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume and seconded by Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate minority leader, resolved to move into the committee of the whole for the purpose of screening nominees of the president for ministerial positions.

Remarkably, Amaechi was the first on the list and he was followed into the chambers by a high-profile delegation of the APC including the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former Speaker Ghali Na‘abba, former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Peterside Dakuku, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State among many others.

Asked for his opening comments, Amaechi started his greetings by acknowledging the three Rivers State senators, all of the PDP, who have been at the forefront of opposition to his ministerial nomination.

He greeted Senator Thompson Sekibo as the senator representing him, forcing laughter from Sekibo, Senator Olaka Nwogu as his long time friend and roommate at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. He also acknowledged Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu, who he said served under him as a commissioner.

Near-slip

Amaechi’s pace for peace with his senators from Rivers State almost caused a slip as he almost forgot to acknowledge other senators.

He subsequently enumerated his experience as a legislator having served as a two-term speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and then as a two-term governor of Rivers State. He cited his accomplishments as governor to include among others, the building of more than 315 world class primary schools, 140 model primary health care centres among others. He also took pride in his sponsorship of two bills while a lawmaker, the anti-kidnapping bill and a bill that defined the responsibilities of parents, teachers and children to guarantee children access to qualitative education.

PDP Senators fight back

Following the greetings, the minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio stood up to make a personal explanation. He said that upon the fact that the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges had not been discussed that the PDP Senate Caucus had resolved not to ask the nominee any question.

Turning to face his colleagues on the PDP benches, Akpabio said, “Is that the decision of the PDP Caucus?” to which there was a thunderous response of “Yes!.”

Senate leader, Ali Ndume apparently miffed by the action of the PDP senators responded that Amaechi as a former legislator should then be given the privilege to bow and go as is the practice of the Nigerian Senate.

“The gentleman you see here is a nominee, and it’s my responsibility to market him here before the Senate. If you people are given the privilege to ask questions and as you said, “You people decide not to ask questions…”

Ndume was immediately countered by roaring denunciation from the PDP benches as they objected to what they described as the condescending reference. Senator Akpabio immediately demanded a retraction. Senate President Saraki rose to the aid of Ndume as he said that Ndume offered one, but which the PDP senators said they did not hear even as some of them demanded a formal apology.

 

Read Amaechi’s answers to questions here

Ministerial Nominee: PDP senators turn dumb during Amaechi screening