ABUJA – Senate of the Federal Republic continued its ministerial screening yesterday, with a nominee, Pastor Usani Usani Uguru ‘demonising’ Peoples Democratic Party.
The nominee had begun reeling out his experiences in private and public service and mentioned the board of Nigeria Copyright Commission in which he had served in 2004,
At that point, a senator whispered “under PDP!” but the pastor retorted in an exclamatory tone: “God forbid! God forbid!”, a response that galvanised the Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio into interrupting the proceeding with a point of order.
Coming under Order 46 that deals with personal privileges, Senator Akpabio was furious that the nominee has refused to acknowledge that he served under the PDP government.
Senator Akpabio, reasoned that whether good or bad, the PDP held sway at the federal level for 16 years, stressing that he could not deny the fact that he benefitted from the PDP government, as himself and even presiding Senate President Bukola Saraki had benefitted as state governors for eight years.
He therefore demanded that the nominee apologize for the insult. The minority leader whose tense words were supported by furious PDP senators was however calmed, when Pastor Uguru apologised: “I am extremely sorry”.
As he continued his speech, he was again interrupted by Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe’s Point of Constitutional Order, alleging that the nominee had yet to declare his assets as a one time public servant, but was ruled out of order by the SP.
Yet in their determination stop the screening, Senator Mau Ohuabunwa observed from the nominee’s Curricula Vitae, that all his tax clearances read same date, namely, 14th October, 2015.
Insisting on his point amidst loud rumours from the APC senators, Sen. Ohuabunwa sounded that the matter is very seriou, adding, “if we continue to say no! no! no! On serious matters, then there is problem ahead”.
Again, the SP came to Pastor Uguru’s rescue, noting that such observation should have come as a question to the nominee. He therefore, ruled Senator Ohuabunwa out-of-order.
Others who were also screened yesterday by the senate, were Adewole Isaac Folorunso (Osun), Hon. Bawa Bwari (Niger), Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu), Zainab S. Ahmed (Kaduna) and Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali (Zamfara).
Their confirmation has been scheduled for another legislative day.
Pastor Usani Usani Uguru
