CNPP to senators: Don’t scuttle ministerial screening

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has advised the Senate not to allow ‘self-interest’ hijack the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement issued yesterday by its national publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, the party appealed to the senators to collectively fast-track the screening and confirmation of the ministerial nominees.

The group stated that a speedy approval of the nominees was the only panacea to cement ‘cordial bipartisan relationship’, noting that a rancorous screening and confirmation process will in no way appease nor reassure the good people of Nigeria, who are anxiously waiting for the progressive change they voted for.

“Our candid appeal is that gridlock is avoidable, only if the distinguished senators, in their enlightened selfinterest and overall national interest during the screening process, limit themselves to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and extant laws, and not necessarily trapped by their own guidelines and rules.

“We appreciate the need to thoroughly screen the nominees and the import of screening out the bad eggs. However, we are making this passionate call of urgent national importance to fasttrack the process so as to engender cordial bi-partisan relationship between the executive and the legislature.

“For the avoidance of doubt, how can we explain and justify that Hajiya Amina Mohammed, an acclaimed global technocrat, is denied confirmation on the flimsy excuse of state of origin? Can we explain the hurried manner and antics of the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyeson Wike to make sure that his predecessor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is denied confirmation? Can we defend the case of a former governor of Lagos State, Raji Fashola, whose traducers want to revise his enviable records and deny him confirmation?” CNPP asked.