Drama as Senate finally screens, clears Amaechi as ministerial nominee

http://www.gatewaymail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Rotimi-Amaechi...Ex-Rivers-State-Governor..jpg

 

NIGERIA: SENATORS of the Peopels Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday refused to ask questions from the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, during his screening for ministerial position.

The development came after three prior attempts to screen the ex-governor, who was indicted for alleged misappropriation of fund by the panel of enquiry set up by his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike.

Amaechi was the first nominee to be screened by the Senators among the six listed on the Order Paper for the day.

Shortly after his introductory speech, the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, raised a point of order and informed his colleagues that the PDP legislators would abstain from asking questions from Amaechi.

He hinged this stance on the fact that since the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions was yet to be debated by the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, they were not ready to take to task the ex-governor.

However, the Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, who spoke after Akpabio submitted that Amaechi should therefore be allowed take a bow and go.

Ndume stated that, by virtue of his position, one of his responsibilities is to market the ministerial nominees.

But the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, allowed for questions which were asked by some senators on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

After the questions and answers section, particularly denying that nowhere in the Rivers State probe panel report was he indicted of corruption, Amaechi was allowed “to take a bow and go.”