Home / Lead Story / Finally, Amaechi gets senate’s nod; as Saraki moves ministerial nominees’ screening to Tuesday
Former Gov. Rotimi Amaechi

Finally, Amaechi gets senate’s nod; as Saraki moves ministerial nominees’ screening to Tuesday

Former Gov. Rotimi Amaechi
Former Gov. Rotimi Amaechi

After three postponements, the former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, eventually took his turn to be screened at the floor of the Nigerian Senate, Thursday, along with four other ministerial nominees.

This is as the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, adjourned till Tuesday, October 27, for further screening of ministerial nominees after the first batch of ministers have now been screened.

So far, 25 ministerial nominees have now been screened by the senate in addition to the five who included Amaechi, the only remnant from the first batch of nominees submitted to the senate, since September 30.

Amaechi’s screening at the senate had caused tension in the polity following two petitions against his nomination which was further compounded by the Ethics committee of the Senate that tacitly delayed the former governor’s turn at the floor of the senate, as it claimed it needed time to verify the petitions.

In what appeared an anti-climax to the drama that had built up for two weeks, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio (PDP, Akwa Ibom) told the senate that the Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the house did not have any questions for Amaechi.

On his part, the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume had earlier hinted, Wednesday, that the report may not necessarily hinder the exercise and that the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators are prepared to support Amaechi.

Amaechi’s screening was followed by that of another controversial nominee, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri from Bayelsa, whose nomination had also been threatened by protests, Prof. Claudius Omoleye Daramola from Ondo State, Mustapha Baba Shehuri and James E. Ocholi (SAN) from Kogi State in that order.

The Senate Ethics Committee report which delayed Amaechi’s screening on three occasions was presented to the senate by Senator Chris Anyanwu, head of the committee, before Amaechi’s screening began following a motion moved by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume and seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

So far, 25 of the 36 ministerial nominees have now been screened.

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