By: Joy Odor/Abuja
It was endorsement galore for many of the ministerial nominees yesterday during their screening on the floor of the Senate even as the Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe kicked against the continuation of such practice.
The upper legislative chamber had resumed screening of the nominees with special consideration for former and serving legislators in both federal and state assemblies in keeping with its tradition of exempting such categories of Nigerians from being subjected to questions but ask to take a bow.
Some other nominees, including women among them were also given the opportunity to take a bow and go.
Consequently, Senator Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo), Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno ), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Chris Ngige (Anambra) who were former legislators from federal and state were spared of questions from the lawmakers.
Similarly, Abubakar D Aliyu (Yobe) Maj.Gen.(Rtd) Bashir Salihi Magashi (Kano), RamatuTijani Aliyu (Kogi) ,Otumba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Ambassador Zubairu Dada (Niger), Mohammed H. Abdullahi (Nasarawa), Sadiya Umar Farouk (Zamfara) and Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna) and Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa) also enjoyed the privilege of being asked to take a bow.
President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, while giving an insight into background of General Aliyu informed his colleagues that nominee was his former deputy governor and had a track record while in public service.
He asked for comments and later asked whether the nominees could be asked to take a bow.
Lawan put it to voice votes and the yeah had it and the nominee took a bow.
However, during the screening of Amb. Zubairu Dada of Niger Senators from Niger while emphasizing on the towering achievements of the nominee persuaded colleagues to ask him to take a bow.
At this juncture, minority leader of the Senate, Senator Abaribe having observed the take a bow syndrome in the chamber, raised a constitutional point of Order (Order 147)(2)noting that the exercise has turned out to be an endorsement screening.
“Mr president of the Senate, this is a confirmation hearing and not an endorsement hearing,” he noted.
However, Abaribe’s observation didn’t change the trend rather the caucuses of the Senate from different states of the federation continued to request their colleagues to allow their indigenes to take a bow.
