An inside source at the Senate confided in Daily Independent yesterday that the much-protected list of nominees along with the cover letter as signed by Buhari had yesterday been transmitted to the Senate.
The documents were handed over to Senate President Bukola Saraki after plenary yesterday.
The president’s letter detailing the ministerial nominees came just as 83 senators passed a vote of confidence on the embattled Senate president, amidst drama that almost turned the plenary to a rowdy session.
The motion co-sponsored by 83 Senators made up of 48 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 35 members of the All progressive Congress (APC) signaled the beginning of the drama as senators struggled to outwit one another during the debate on the confidence vote.
An inside source at the Senate had also debunked the possible names on the president’s ministerial list, which were being speculated since the past days.
The source said it would be preposterous for anyone to categorically mention names as listed by the president, saying the list was being jealously guided by the Senate President in deference to Buhari’s that the content be made available only on the floor of the Chamber.
Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Ita Enang, reportedly handed over the list to the Senate President at the end of yesterday’s plenary.
However, the Senate has stated that ministerial nominees would go through a thorough screening exercise whenever they are called to appear for confirmation, adding that no one would enjoy the traditional courtesy of “bow and go” as previously observed in honour of former members of the Senate.
The Senate said it would allow merit and competence to guide it in the screening exercise, adding that it would not unnecessarily delay the screening exercise.
Senator Saraki had prepared the minds of his colleagues on the possibility of receiving the ministerial list while addressing the plenary on resumption after a six-week holiday.
In his welcome address yesterday, he said, “I want to urge you all my colleagues to ensure that what is uppermost in our minds as we begin the constitutional task of screening of ministerial nominees is the overall interest of our country, informed by the enormity and the urgency of the challenges before us.
“Once the list is submitted, let us ensure that we treat it with dispatch and thoroughness.”
Vote of Confidence
The drama at yesterday’s plenary began immediately Senator David Umaru (APC, Niger East) moved a motion seeking to pass a vote of confidence on the principal officers of the Senate, which was seconded by Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, another APC member who is from Zamfara State.
The permission to move the motion was approved by members through voice affirmation.
Prominent among PDP members on the list of senators who sponsored the motion were former Senate President, David Mark, Godswill Akpabio, Jonah Jang, Theodore Orji while APC senators include Shehu Sani, Adamu Aliero, Bukar Ibrahim and Kabiru Gaya.
However, the situation was marred by an open protest against the Senate decision by APC Senator Kabiru Marafa from Zamfara State.
While the motion was put to debate, and passed, Senator Marafa kept his hand in the air, signifying intention to speak but was stoically ignored by the Senate President until the gavel was banged signifying end of discussion on the matter.
Senator Umaru, in moving the motion, noted that the Senate leadership had done well and should be commended for a job well done.
He made reference to the trial of Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and urged his colleagues to stand their ground against any outside influence over the affairs of the Senate.
“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,” he said.
The Senate in its resolution called on Nigerians not to allow themselves to be “used by any person or persons to harass, intimidate or blackmail the Senate”.
Angry Marafa
However, the action of the Senate in plenary irked Marafa who continued to protest vehemently against the way he was treated.
In protesting against the confidence vote, he said he was unfairly treated by Saraki whom he noted deliberately refused to identify him after having raised his (Marafa) hands several times on the floor to express his opinion on the matter.
He became angry when the Senate President referred him to the relevant sections of the Senate rule, which prohibits any member from making reference to a matter that has been ruled upon.
Senator Marafa refused to be placated and continued to speak in anger against Saraki’s ruling.
However, the matter turned awry when another APC Senator from Bauchi State, Isah Hamman Misau, who was among the sponsors of the motion, rose to caution Marafa against disobeying the ruling of the Senate President.
This intervention further provoked Senator Marafa who attempted to move towards Misau, an effort that was halted by many Senators who rose in unison to block him and prevent imminent exchange of blows between the duo.
At the peak of his anger, Marafa walked out of the chamber aided by senators who stopped him from attacking Misau.
But Marafa returned to the floor of the Senate before it rose for the day. It was gathered that some of his friends in the Senate prevailed on him to return.
And in a bid to persuade the Senate against sanctioning Marafa, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, apologised to the senators on his behalf, stating that he should be forgiven for the embarrassment he caused to the Senate.
Defending The Senate
Earlier in his welcome address, the Senate President had expressed his readiness to stand tall in the face of persecution.
Making reference to his ongoing prosecution for alleged false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Saraki urged his colleagues to join him in the fight against forces that are working against democracy.
He maintained his innocence as he insisted that President Buhari had no hand in his ordeal, but some powerful individuals who want to take control of the Upper Chamber at all costs.
He reminded his colleagues of their duties to protect the sanctity of the Senate as an independent institution, which should never be cowed by those outside the wall of the chambers.
His words: “We must not be held down by unnecessary politicking. The enormity of our national challenges at this time does not give room for pettiness or politics of vendetta.
“I invite all of you to stand with me to defend this Senate and preserve its sanctity. Ultimately, our legacies would not be defined by how long we stay here and in whatever position; but by what we did with this great opportunity that our people have given us by the grace of Almighty God.”
Complimentary Budget
Also, the Senate said yesterday said it would review the 2015 budget with a view to making positive impact on the economy.
This position was also contained in Saraki’s speech at the resumption of Senate in Plenary.
The President was being expected to present to the National Assembly a supplementary budget for 2015 soon as the last administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have exhausted the borrowing limit set for Capital Projects for the year 2015, even before handing over government to the Buhari administration on May 29, 2015.
Yesterday, Saraki identified economic challenges as a rock that must be smashed if Nigerians would not dismiss the government as a failure by Nigerians.
“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 gravity.
“We must think hard and work hard with the Executive to achieve greater clarity in policy direction and interventions,” he said.
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