Senators under pressure to stop ministerial nominees

Nigeria SENATORS are under pressure to reject some ministerial nominees, it was learnt yesterday. They are being urged to stop some nominees, particularly those who are likely to return to the cabinet,

according to the Vice-Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Mr. Smart Adeyemi.

Senate President David Mark said the list of ministerial nominees is expected from the President today.

“I’m sure he will send the list to us. I hope he sends it tomorrow (today)”, he said yesterday while inspecting the Senate chambers ahead of today’s resumption of plenery.

Also leading the “tremendous” pressure are those Adeyemi described as “hired lobbyists” and some multi-national companies, which he did not name.

Adeyemi told reporters in Abuja, that some political opponents and those whose businesses were being threatened are behind the pressure.

He said: “We have been under intense pressure by lobbyists and political hired mercenaries to stop some nominees from being cleared or to disqualify some nominees by asking questions to embarrass them and stop them.

“They have given many of us sleepless nights with offer of millions of naira so as to discredit some nominees.

“But, to some of us, this will not in anyway affect the screening. The screening will follow the normal pattern. Once they scale through security screening, which normally would have taken care of their morals and integrity, ours is to ask questions on their state of intelligence and plans to midwife the transformation programmes of the President.

“We have also noticed that there are political opponents and that those whose business interests are being threatened by the reforms are involved in this crusade so as to settle business scores.

“I believe that majority of the Senators that I have interacted with believe in President Jonathan’s transformation programmes and will not allow any of us to be used. Those who are prepared to spend millions to disqualify some nominees or the transformation agenda of the President should invest their money in charity work and leave the Senate alone.
Asked whether his colleagues share his opinion, Adeyemi replied:

“Many of us will be very much at alert to make sure that money is not allowed to play any role in this screening. We have been told that some people should not be allowed to pass through the screening simply because they effected or carried out reforms that will empower Nigeria rather than foreign interests.”

Asked to be specific, the senator said: “In this crusade are some multi-national companies and their agents who feel that some re-nominated ministers, who were part and parcel of the reform programmes and agenda aimed at empowering Nigerians as regards local content in the process of industrialisation, should be stopped in order to kill such reforms.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that there is need for total reforms in the transportation, oil and gas, housing and power sectors and these sectors require highly intelligent and courageous ministers and of course, some would be retained for continuity.

“Those whose business interests are being threatened should get to understand that the majority of my colleagues are aware of their scheme. Therefore, lobbyists are advised to steer clear of lawmakers or they will be exposed.”