As the Senate awaits the list of new cabinet members, some senators have started plotting against some ministerial nominees who have been screened by security agencies.Some of the ministerial nominees,
who might face challenge during the screening are: Mohammed Haliru Bello; Diezani Allison-Madueke; Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai; Bala Mohammed; Barth Nnaji; Nuhu Zagbayi; Dora Akunyili; Dr. Samuel Ortom; Ms Jumoke Akinjide; Fidelia Njeze; According to findings, the affected nominees are likely to face political and security hurdles.But such controversial nominees are also not taking things for granted as they are already lobbying senators for soft-landing.
The presidency may, however, submit the list on Monday ahead of senators’ resumption on Tuesday.
Investigation by The Nation showed that some aggrieved senators are ganging up to stop some nominees chosen outside the list submitted either by their governors or state chapters of the PDP.
For a ministerial nominee to be cleared by the Senate, at least two out of three senators from a state must concur.
Other senators are uncomfortable that some nominees with weighty allegations and poor security reports against them have been included in the cabinet list based on pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan.
It was learnt that the battle for some of the nominees has shifted to the Senate where aggrieved members are waiting in the wing for a "thorough screening."
A returning senator said: "Some of us have been meeting and we are determined to do a thorough screening this time around.
"The fact is that petitions and security reports on some of these nominees are damning and it will be a ridicule of our commitment to probity to clear such nominees.
"Some of us are also aggrieved that in some states, nominees were chosen by the President outside the list submitted by state governors and state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
"We believe that the opinions or suggestions of members should count. We will want to take issues with the President on why some nominations cannot stand.
"The Federal Character Principle in the Constitution is applicable at all levels. Why will some zones be producing ministers over the years from a state and others will be left out?"
Another senator, who spoke in confidence, said: "Intense lobbying of senators by ministerial nominees has started ahead of the resumption of the senate on Tuesday.
"These nominees are disturbed by the disagreement which their choice had caused within the party and they are not taking things for granted.
"Some of those affected have been the butt of attacks and criticisms in the media by some stakeholders and sponsored parties.
And there is no doubt that senators have taken judicious notice of issues raised in the media against nominees.
"We are really under pressure from controversial nominees, especially some ex-ministers, who have petitions against them."
A top source said about the nominees : "Take the case of the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Haliru Bello, he might be taken up on the issue of the Siemens bribery scandal which he was questioned about by the EFCC. Although Bello has repeatedly said he was not involved in the scam, the scandal is a burden he needs to clarify during screening.
"As for Diezani, despite her modest achievements in the oil sector, some stakeholders including oil major are plotting against her. She knows herself that she is facing a battle from an oil cartel which has made some documents available to senators who will screen her.
"Those who did not benefit from oil block allocation during her tenure are ready to fight her to the finish. The petitions against this nominee are many. But she is up to the task, going by her defence in the last two weeks in the media.
"Concern Prof. Rufai, the mass failure in Secondary School Certificate Examinations, especially the last NECO papers and the establishment of new universities in the midst of the neglect of old ones do not make senators happy. Her alleged overbearing attitude on parastatals under her was said to be one of the issues raised against her by security agencies.
"Also, some forces that brought her into the cabinet have not been happy with her for abandoning them. In fact, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation was said to be instrumental to her initial appointment with the consent of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa but she had allegedly ditched the ex-SGF. So, the case against her is about loyalty.
"Concerning ex-Deputy Governor Nuhu Zagbayi of Niger State , the opposition is mainly from his state including Governor Babangida Aliyu. The state has been under tension since Zagbayi’s name cropped up. The governor is from Zone B and the ministerial nominee (Zagbayi) from Niger State is also from the same zone contrary to the existing power sharing formula in the state.
"The governor had recommended four candidates from Zone A. They are a former chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Abdurrahman Enagi; the immediate past Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Umar Maali; the immediate past Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Baba Shehu Agaie, and a former Minister of Sports, Sani Ndanusa."
"On Akunyili, most PDP leaders do not want her back because she abandoned the PDP for APGA. Although she is rated high as a professional, the manner in which she derided PDP while joining APGA is counting against her among senators."
The source added that the immediate past Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, is facing opposition from top politicians from Bauchi State, who see him as a likely governorship candidate in 2015. The source said: "For Bala, the political bigwigs in Bauchi do not want him back at all. They are ready to do anything to stop him. Some returnee senators also have what one may term as ‘personal grudges’ against him.
"But going by precedent, the Senate may ignore all these sentiments and ask Bala to take a bow being one of them. Regarding Ortom, his closeness to the incoming Minority Leader in the Senate, ex-Governor George Akume, might be his undoing. Some party stalwarts see his emergence as a minister as empowering Akume. His nomination may rekindle the aged Tiv-Idoma rivalry irrespective of the fact that he is morally upright."
On Njeze, the source said Jonathan was impressed by her achievements in the Aviation Sector but her appointment may distort power sharing formula in Enugu State . "I think there is a disagreement between the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan Chime. Ekweremadu is saying that Njeze is from the same zone with the governor which will not augur well for the unity of the state.
"The same argument goes for Jumoke Akinjide, who is from Ibadan which has produced the governor of the state. Jumoke’s appointment has left Ogbomosoland sidelined in the scheme of things. Those who are pro-former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin and apostles of zoning are up in arms against Jumoke.
"For Nnaji who might manage the power sector, senators want practical and measurable indices that will stabilise supply nationwide. The fact that he had been part of the solution to the nation’s power crisis will make his screening challenging."
As at press time, it was gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Chief David Mark, and select PDP leaders held a marathon meeting on Thursday to finalise consultations on the list. There were indications that security agencies may conclude the screening of nominees by weekend.
A presidency source said: "I am aware that the President’s consultations with vital stakeholders, including the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark, on the nominees were closed on Thursday. The screening of the last set of nominees might be done this weekend to pave the way for a neat copy of the list which will be sent to the Senate on or before Monday."
Responding to a question, the source added: "The Senate may get the list on Monday to prevent leakage of those on the list." Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), empowers the President to constitute his cabinet to reflect the Federal Character Principle.
The Section says: "There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President. Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.
"Any appointment under subsection(2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of Section14(3) of this Constitution provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state."-The nation
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