Rowdy session at Senate over lopsided Federal Appointments by Buhari

There was uproar in the Senate, Thursday following complaints against alleged lopsided appointments into the federal boards and parastatals by President Muhammadu Buhari. Soon after the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki read a letter from President Buhari on the appointed of former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Tunde Lemo as Chairman, Board of Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, the Managing director and six other others as members, deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu raised a point of order. Senator Ekweremadu who referred the Senate to section 14(3) of 1999 Constitution, picked holes in the appointment of chairmen of boards without recourse to Federal Character Principle, with a particular zone in the country, South-east, being neglected and marginalised. According to Senator Ekweremadu, the action of President Buhari was totally unacceptable to him because the leadership of these agencies were coming from a particular part of the country. Ekweremadu who noted that he was not against anyone, but against the non adherence to federal character principle in line with the constitution and for national unity. At this point, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan in his intervention said that whenever the government sends a list containing the list of appointments, the government does its work very well. It was at this point that the hallowed chamber became very rowdy as there were reactions, shouts from the Senators. Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki tried to bring down the tension and the rowdy nature, describing the issue as speculations, adding that what has just happened was a letter from the President. Saraki then gave the Senator Tijani Kaura, APC, Zamfara led Committee on Federal Character to investigate the issues raised by the deputy Senate President and report back at plenary next week Tuesday, adding that the probe would ascertain if there are such cases or not. Another round of uproar erupted when the Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan read executive communication for the screening of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Civil Service Commission with Dr. Bello Tukur Ingawa from Katsina as Chairman. Senator Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu North came under Order 15 still on the same subject matter the screening should be kept ambience until the Senate Committee on Federal character comes up with its report. Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, PDP, Abia North corroborated Senator Utazi, calling for the putting on hold of screening and confirmation. Senator Obinna Ogba, PDP, Ebonyi also came up with a similar position. While he was talking, there were shouts from his colleagues and this prompted Ogba to shout back that they were not the ones presiding, but the Senate President. Details later…]]>