….Accuses Akpabio Of Playing Politics With Elrufai’s Ministerial Approval
A civil society organization, the Salvage For Development Initiatives (SDI) has called on the National Assembly to prioritise the interest of Nigerians while carrying out their constitutional duties.
The group said that the lawmakers need to understand the plight of the people so as to be guided in their operations.
SDI made this call in a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Publicity, Damilola Onadeko, saying that the lawmakers should replicate the irresistible impulse of their constientd
“It follows that the two chambers should have their ears on the ground to have full grasp of what an average Nigerian feels. In a normal situation, Nigerians should not be going through hard times while their Representatives play to the gallery.
“The Nigerian Senate, in principle, carry the burden of the legislative modus operandi, more. Albeit, the House of Representatives are closer to the Nigerian people in practice and they feel the heat more than the Senators”, said the group.
On the stepping down of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s ministerial approval, the group said ” Personal grudges nor political calculations towards personal aggrandizement should not in any way, hamper ministerial screening.
“Otherwise, the drama that played out on the Senate lobby while the immediate past Executive Governor of Kaduna State widely adjudged to be one of the best Governors during the last regime of President Mohammad Buhari and staunch loyalist of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose country home, Kaduna State venerates like a deity should be taken for a ride by the Senate President’s shenanigans”
The group alleged the Senate President of playing games with the ministerial nomination of El-rufai, saying “Having emerged in a democratic manner he did, Akpabio needs not be told that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is also a Democrat who believes in a one and united Nigeria”
” One can understand apparently, that secondary school students who study government as a subject know quite well that the vehement refusal of the Senate to clear Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and two others as ministerial nominees has some funny political underlying factors. The exercise was simply a charade”
“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is an elder statesman and his savvy of the Nigerian State is never in doubt. He singlehandedly led the clarion call and made his position known, traveling here and there that it was the turn of the South to produce the President”
“Posterity shall be very happy with El-Rufai, given the fact that he never wanted a divided Nigeria, abintio”
“One then wonders the source of the purported petition alleging and citing “security checks, unity and cohesiveness” as reasons to delay his confirmation as a Minister of the Federal Republic of NIGERIA as submitted by Senator Sunday Karimi having first commended His Excellency, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s meteoric strides in public office”
“Today, it is a public knowledge that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is so dispassionate about revamping the power sector to bring smiling faces to Nigerians”
“The National Assembly and more importantly, the Nigerian Senate should know that our best hands should not be deprived their legitimate rights all in the name of politics”
“Having shortlisted him (El-Rufai) as a ministerial nominee, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to a very large extent, it is vivid that he has good plans for Nigeria. Why should the Senate President and his circus-friendly allies stop innovative El-Rufai other ministerial nominees?”
“The National Assembly, more pertinently, should avail the citizenry, the actual reasons Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and others were disqualified and not the irrational clues being peddled around”, said SDI.
