Don’t Be Too Script In Screening Of Ministerial Nominees, CNPP Tells Senators

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Sunday, October 11th, 2015

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has appealed to the Nigerian Senators to as a matter of urgent national importance fast-track the screening and confirmation of the Ministerial Nominees submitted to t by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It said: “for us this is the only panacea to cement Cordial Bi-Partisan relationship; as a rancorous screening and confirmation process can in no way appease nor reassure the good people of Nigeria who are anxiously waiting for the progressive change they voted for.

“Whereas, 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 fast-tract the process; so as to engender Cordial Bi-Partisan relationship between the executive and the legislature and good governance.

CNPP,s appeal was contained in a statement Made available to AFRICAN EXAMINER in Enugu on sunday which was signed by its National publicity Secretary, Osita Okechkwu.

It said: “For the avoidance of doubt, how can we explain and justify that Hajia Amina Mohammed, an acclaimed global technocrat is denied confirmation on the flimsy excuse of state of origin or 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 Amechi is denied confirmation”

“And thus for former governor of Lagos State, Raji Fashola whose traducers want to revise his enviable records and deny him confirmation

“This is neither the intendment nor the spirit and letters of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as per confirmation of ministers designate.

The organization said therefore, that it is her considered view that it may be far less altruistic if the National Assembly and the Senate in this instance, which on its own initiative from day one constructed Cordial Bi-Partisan relationship between the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress ( (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to “wittingly or unwittingly simulate gridlock which will definitely infuriate the tired and weary citizenry of our dear nation.

“As a reminder, may we inform that further bickering between the executive and the legislature will further alienate our people from democracy, and hence endanger our fledgling democracy, as some people are questioning the gains of democracy in the midst of hunger, abject poverty and gross unemployment.

“Granted that there are fans of gridlock, and pundits who will narrate how face-off between the executive and legislature nurtures democracy; what they forget is that gridlock will definitely hinder the noble objectives of Mr President, erode foreign direct investment and make democracy dysfunctional.

“Therefore, our candid appeal is that gridlock is avoidable, only if the Distinguish Senators in their enlightened self interest and over all 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, which recent observance is scanty.