Stalemate in Senate over Obanikoro’s screening
Obanikoro(L)and Agbaje
Efforts to resolve the controversy over the nomination of the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro for reappointment as a minister by the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Senate and their opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) counterparts yesterday ended in a deadlock.Consequently, the Senate deferred the screening and confirmation of Obanikoro to next week, to allow for more lobbying towards convincing the aggrieved opposition senators to cooperate with the leadership of the Senate in confirming him without generating commotion in the Chamber.
President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, who was very conscious of the mood of the opposition members and their readiness to cause furore in the Chamber over Obanikoro, had quickly called for executive session immediately the lawmakers took their seats preparatory for the day’s business. After the closed-door session, which lasted for one and half hours, Mark simply announced that the Senate discussed important issues of national interest at the session.
However, New Telegraph reliably gathered that Obanikoro was the subject matter of the closed-door meeting, during which the Senate resolved to suspend his screening till next week to allow for more dialogue amongst the stakeholders in the two parties. One of the Senators, who attended the session, told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the senators spent the whole time, negotiating on how to go about the controversial screening without creating a situation that would ridicule the integrity of the Upper Chamber.
According to the senator, the legislators were considering whether the allegations against Obanikoro by the APC, which made the three senators from Lagos State to oppose his nomination, could affect the standing rule in the Senate, which grants former members of the Chamber appearing for confirmation express approval, without being subjected to answering questions from the senators.
He explained that Obanikoro was entitled to the privilege but the problem was that the three senators from Lagos were altogether against the nominee, making it difficult for the senators to ignore such critical situation and grant him express confirmation. He, however, disclosed that Obanikoro would be screened and confirmed next week, saying that nothing would stop the Senate from approving the appointment of the embat-led former lawmaker.
Members of the APC in the Senate have been protesting against the nomination of Obanikoro as well as working hard to frustrate his confirmation by the Upper Chamber because of their grievances against him on his alleged past mistreatment of the opposition during the last Ekiti governorship election.
The Senate, however, screened Senator Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa), who was accorded the full privilege of the Senate standing rule on former senators, as she was simply asked to take a bow and go without entertaining questions from the lawmakers. Other nominees who were screened yesterday include Prof. Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue), Col. Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (Abia), and Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo from Ebonyi State. Those who will reappear for screening next week, as they were not accommodated yesterday include: Mrs Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa), Obanikoro (Lagos), Mr. Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba).
President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, who was very conscious of the mood of the opposition members and their readiness to cause furore in the Chamber over Obanikoro, had quickly called for executive session immediately the lawmakers took their seats preparatory for the day’s business. After the closed-door session, which lasted for one and half hours, Mark simply announced that the Senate discussed important issues of national interest at the session.
However, New Telegraph reliably gathered that Obanikoro was the subject matter of the closed-door meeting, during which the Senate resolved to suspend his screening till next week to allow for more dialogue amongst the stakeholders in the two parties. One of the Senators, who attended the session, told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the senators spent the whole time, negotiating on how to go about the controversial screening without creating a situation that would ridicule the integrity of the Upper Chamber.
According to the senator, the legislators were considering whether the allegations against Obanikoro by the APC, which made the three senators from Lagos State to oppose his nomination, could affect the standing rule in the Senate, which grants former members of the Chamber appearing for confirmation express approval, without being subjected to answering questions from the senators.
He explained that Obanikoro was entitled to the privilege but the problem was that the three senators from Lagos were altogether against the nominee, making it difficult for the senators to ignore such critical situation and grant him express confirmation. He, however, disclosed that Obanikoro would be screened and confirmed next week, saying that nothing would stop the Senate from approving the appointment of the embat-led former lawmaker.
Members of the APC in the Senate have been protesting against the nomination of Obanikoro as well as working hard to frustrate his confirmation by the Upper Chamber because of their grievances against him on his alleged past mistreatment of the opposition during the last Ekiti governorship election.
The Senate, however, screened Senator Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa), who was accorded the full privilege of the Senate standing rule on former senators, as she was simply asked to take a bow and go without entertaining questions from the lawmakers. Other nominees who were screened yesterday include Prof. Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue), Col. Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (Abia), and Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo from Ebonyi State. Those who will reappear for screening next week, as they were not accommodated yesterday include: Mrs Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa), Obanikoro (Lagos), Mr. Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba).
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