In what was the most dramatic day of the nomination and screening process so far, PDP senators walked out of the chambers after the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) went ahead and confirmed former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as a minister. By far the most controversial nominee, Governor Amaechi had been the subject of a concerted campaign by the PDP who wanted his confirmation blocked.
According to the PDP, Governor Amaechi should not be confirmed until he clears his name and answers all the pending corruption charges against him. Indeed the senate's own ethics and privileges committee had recommended that Governor Amaechi should not be approved as a minister until the end of the judicial process he is currently embroiled in.
However, now that the process finally came to a conclusion, President Buhari is poised to assign portfolio to his ministers and administer the oath of office to them. So far, 36 ministers have been confirmed by the senate and it is expected that they will be the first to be sworn-in immediately to allow the government begin work.
One presidential source said: “The first major official assignment before Mr President in November is the inauguration of his cabinet. Arrangements have already been made for this and it will most likely happen on Wednesday."
Yesterday's confirmation was acrimonious as minority leader Senator Godswill Akpabio drew the attention of the senate president to the need to debate the report on the petition against Governor Amaechi. Senate president Bukola Saraki noted the observation and the confirmation proper commenced with all the other nominees approved without rancour but trouble started when it got to the confirmation of Governor Amaechi.
Senator Saraki asked the chairman of the ethics, privileges and public petitions committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu to present the report on petition against Governor Amaechi. Presenting the report, Senator Anyanwu said his committee was unable to recommend the consideration of Governor Amaechi’s confirmation as there was a court case on the matter.
Not satisfied with the report, the senate leader Senator Ali Ndume moved a point of order saying the committee lacks the power to make any recommendation as the matter was before the court. However, Senator Akpabio refused to second the motion and insisted that the rules of the senate must be adhered to.
After a heated debate, all the PDP Senators walked out of the chamber in protest apart from the deputy senate president Senator Ike Ekweremadu. After they left, Senator Barnabas Gemade (APC, Benue) suggested that the senate carry on the confirmation of Governor Amaechi and Senator Saraki subsequently put a question on the report of the petition against Amaechi and the senators unanimously voted against it, confirming him.
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