Akande-Adeola, Ajibola in battle for House Leader
Oyo PDP turns down minister of state slot
THE ugly and the beautiful sides of getting a political office in Nigeria were played out yesterday at the National Assembly as the two chambers considered the request of the President to raise the pay of two of his aides and the confirmation of some ministerial nominees.
While some nominees had very smooth screening at the Senate, it was rough for Dr. Obadiah Ando, whom President Goodluck Jonathan presented to the Upper House to confirm for his cabinet.
As Ando gave all he had to clinch the slot but failed, the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was a slap on its face to be asssigned a minister of state in the federal cabinet.
And once the President’s letter seeking to place his chief economic adviser and the National Security Adviser (NSA) on the same salaries with ministers was read at the Lower Chambers, most of the lawamkers present at the session, kicked, shouting “no, no, no.” The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, quickly withdrew the letter, saying the issue will be revisited when the memo is circulated among all the members.
The Lower House also failed to produce its Majority Leader as the members were divided on the issue. From the proceedings, there were two camps, those supporting Mulikat Akande-Adeola, allegedly put up by the President and others backing Muraina Ajibola, believed to be the popular candidate among the lawmakers. The two contestants are from Oyo State.
A meeting called last Monday to select the occupant of the office was deadlocked following the inability of the two camps to take a common position. Akande-Adeola and Ajibola had lost out the race for the Speakership, which Tambuwal won following the House’s refusal to respect the PDP zoning formula. While Ajibola withdrew from the contest, Akande-Adeola was defeated by Tambuwal by 250 votes to 90.
At the plenary session yesterday, Tambuwal admitted that there were still unresolved issues about the position of the House Majority Leader.
Majority of the 2002 member PDP caucus preferred the House to choose its own leader without any outside interference.
It was good beginning but bad ending at the Senate for Ando, who was rejected after it was clear that he could not scale the last hundles to becoming a minister.
Ando’s name came to the floor of the Senate for screening for the third time yesterday. At the close of the exercise for the last batch of ministerial nominees forwarded to the chamber last week by Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, said there were certain things that needed to be sorted out about Ando’s nomination while the name of Tonye Cole from Rivers State was formally withdrawn.
Ando entered the chamber at 12.30 p.m. decked in the state’s traditional outfit and was ushered to the podium after paying the usual homage to the leadership of the Upper House.
There was no inkling that the nominees would face any hurdle as the chamber remained calm while Ando, at the instance of Mark, read out his achievements in the Ministry of Water Resources where he had held sway as minister in the last couple of years.
Even at the end of what appeared like self- adulation, senators asked him to take a bow and leave the chamber, a tradition for those appeared to have been given general acceptance.
He walked out with his shoulders high and even exchanged banters with some senators on his way out of the chamber. An indication that all obstacles on his way to getting the job had been cleared.
But when Mark put the question on his confirmation, the Senate President himself must have been shocked to the marrow when no single voice was heard on the floor.
When he sought the opponents’ position, the chamber erupted in a chorus, “nay.”
Even when the chamber reverted to plenary and Mark put the question for the final time, the senators unanimously rejected him.
Mark remarked that Ando’s rejection “is a clear indication that not everybody nominated for a position would be cleared by the Senate,’’ adding that “it is for people to learn from this experience.”
Addressing journalists after the plenary session, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, explained that Ando was given the opportunity to mend fence with senators from his state but he seemed not to have used the opportunity.
“The issue is that if you, as a nominee, does not have the support of senators from your state, you are in trouble and he did not have that. Senate gave him the opportunity to settle whatever problem he had with his people but it could not be resolved.”
Senators from Taraba led by Jummai Alhassan had opposed Ando’s nomination on the ground that he did not do anything for the state throughout his stewardship.
Ndoma-Egba also spoke on the reported cut in the overhead cost of the National Assembly, explaining that it was part of the sacrifice made by the lawmakers to reduce the cost of governance in the country.
He stressed that the cut did not affect the salaries of senators on the same salary scale with ministers and Supreme Court justices.
The chamber, however, cleared former Head of Service, Ama Pepple, Nyesom Wike (Rivers), former General Manager of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Edem Duke (Cross River), Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe (Plateau State), and Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia from Kaduna State.
Wike used the forum to clear allegation that he was being invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). As a politician, he said, he was aware of what people are capable of doing just to pull their opponents down.
According to him, he was once invited by the EFCC and “without making any statement; the news was carried about my detention.” He added that he was accused of diverting N4.5 billion from Rivers State government’s account to his private purse whereas, he had just about N624,000 in his personal account against over N4 billion alleged to have been found. “The matter was quashed in 2009 by a court in Abuja,” he said.
According to him, “many years after the case was over, most people are still talking about the case, unaware that I have been discharged and acquitted.”
Jonathan, who also sent the letter of higher pay for the two aides to the Senate, said:
“I write to request the Distinguished Senate to pass a resolution upgrading the salaries and allowances of the Chief Economic Adviser and the National Security Adviser to be at par with that of ministers as per the powers conferred on you by section 151(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
“My request is predicated on the peculiar nature of the functions the holders of these offices perform. These officials, among other things, chair committees and bodies, whose membership include serving ministers, in addition to their participating at council meetings.
“I am certain that acceding to this request in the manner I solicit will enhance the capacity of the office holders to operate as tasked, and impact positively on the service delivery.’’ The letter was dated July 7, 2011 and entitled: “Request for a resolution on the renumeration and allowances of the Chief Economic Adviser and National Security Adviser.’’
Signs of the face-off with the President became obvious when Tambuwal read a letter in which Jonathan sought approval of the House to upgrade the salaries and allowances of the aides.
Many lawmakers shouted “no, no, no” immediately the letter was read.
Tambuwal quickly asked that the issue be suspended till another legislative day when the letter would have been circulated to every member for proper scrutiny.
This was after he conferred in low tones with his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.
The Rule of the House provides that any letter from the President would be treated on the next legislative day unless a resolution is passed to waive it and take the issue immediately.
Most lawmakers are angry over the alleged slashing of their allowances.
He however announced the names of those principal officers who have been selected to occupy other leadership positions in the lower chamber as Isyaka Mohammed Bawa (Chief Whip), Leo Ogor (Deputy House Leader), Mohammed Ahmed (Deputy Chief Whip), and Femi Gbajabiamila retained the position of the House Minority Leader.
Samson Osagie was made the Minority Whip while Suleiman Kawu and Garba Datti were named as the Deputy Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Whip in that order.
Meanwhile, the House has urged the Executive arm of government to continue to negotiation with leaders of the three unions to avert the planned industrial action by university personnel.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Ismail Hussain drawing the attention of the House to the threat of industrial action by the workers over the failure of the government to implement the 2009 agreement with them.
Elders of the PDP in Oyo State yesterday faulted the junior minister portfolio assigned to Jumoke Akinjide by the President, describing it as unacceptable.
The elders insisted that the President and the national leadership of the PDP had by their actions portrayed the party in the state as an inferior member of the PDP family.
They maintained that the appointment was in furtherance of the unfair treatment meted out to the party in the zone and Oyo state in particular.
Oyo PDP turns down minister of state slot
THE ugly and the beautiful sides of getting a political office in Nigeria were played out yesterday at the National Assembly as the two chambers considered the request of the President to raise the pay of two of his aides and the confirmation of some ministerial nominees.
While some nominees had very smooth screening at the Senate, it was rough for Dr. Obadiah Ando, whom President Goodluck Jonathan presented to the Upper House to confirm for his cabinet.
As Ando gave all he had to clinch the slot but failed, the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was a slap on its face to be asssigned a minister of state in the federal cabinet.
And once the President’s letter seeking to place his chief economic adviser and the National Security Adviser (NSA) on the same salaries with ministers was read at the Lower Chambers, most of the lawamkers present at the session, kicked, shouting “no, no, no.” The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, quickly withdrew the letter, saying the issue will be revisited when the memo is circulated among all the members.
The Lower House also failed to produce its Majority Leader as the members were divided on the issue. From the proceedings, there were two camps, those supporting Mulikat Akande-Adeola, allegedly put up by the President and others backing Muraina Ajibola, believed to be the popular candidate among the lawmakers. The two contestants are from Oyo State.
A meeting called last Monday to select the occupant of the office was deadlocked following the inability of the two camps to take a common position. Akande-Adeola and Ajibola had lost out the race for the Speakership, which Tambuwal won following the House’s refusal to respect the PDP zoning formula. While Ajibola withdrew from the contest, Akande-Adeola was defeated by Tambuwal by 250 votes to 90.
At the plenary session yesterday, Tambuwal admitted that there were still unresolved issues about the position of the House Majority Leader.
Majority of the 2002 member PDP caucus preferred the House to choose its own leader without any outside interference.
It was good beginning but bad ending at the Senate for Ando, who was rejected after it was clear that he could not scale the last hundles to becoming a minister.
Ando’s name came to the floor of the Senate for screening for the third time yesterday. At the close of the exercise for the last batch of ministerial nominees forwarded to the chamber last week by Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, said there were certain things that needed to be sorted out about Ando’s nomination while the name of Tonye Cole from Rivers State was formally withdrawn.
Ando entered the chamber at 12.30 p.m. decked in the state’s traditional outfit and was ushered to the podium after paying the usual homage to the leadership of the Upper House.
There was no inkling that the nominees would face any hurdle as the chamber remained calm while Ando, at the instance of Mark, read out his achievements in the Ministry of Water Resources where he had held sway as minister in the last couple of years.
Even at the end of what appeared like self- adulation, senators asked him to take a bow and leave the chamber, a tradition for those appeared to have been given general acceptance.
He walked out with his shoulders high and even exchanged banters with some senators on his way out of the chamber. An indication that all obstacles on his way to getting the job had been cleared.
But when Mark put the question on his confirmation, the Senate President himself must have been shocked to the marrow when no single voice was heard on the floor.
When he sought the opponents’ position, the chamber erupted in a chorus, “nay.”
Even when the chamber reverted to plenary and Mark put the question for the final time, the senators unanimously rejected him.
Mark remarked that Ando’s rejection “is a clear indication that not everybody nominated for a position would be cleared by the Senate,’’ adding that “it is for people to learn from this experience.”
Addressing journalists after the plenary session, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, explained that Ando was given the opportunity to mend fence with senators from his state but he seemed not to have used the opportunity.
“The issue is that if you, as a nominee, does not have the support of senators from your state, you are in trouble and he did not have that. Senate gave him the opportunity to settle whatever problem he had with his people but it could not be resolved.”
Senators from Taraba led by Jummai Alhassan had opposed Ando’s nomination on the ground that he did not do anything for the state throughout his stewardship.
Ndoma-Egba also spoke on the reported cut in the overhead cost of the National Assembly, explaining that it was part of the sacrifice made by the lawmakers to reduce the cost of governance in the country.
He stressed that the cut did not affect the salaries of senators on the same salary scale with ministers and Supreme Court justices.
The chamber, however, cleared former Head of Service, Ama Pepple, Nyesom Wike (Rivers), former General Manager of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Edem Duke (Cross River), Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe (Plateau State), and Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia from Kaduna State.
Wike used the forum to clear allegation that he was being invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). As a politician, he said, he was aware of what people are capable of doing just to pull their opponents down.
According to him, he was once invited by the EFCC and “without making any statement; the news was carried about my detention.” He added that he was accused of diverting N4.5 billion from Rivers State government’s account to his private purse whereas, he had just about N624,000 in his personal account against over N4 billion alleged to have been found. “The matter was quashed in 2009 by a court in Abuja,” he said.
According to him, “many years after the case was over, most people are still talking about the case, unaware that I have been discharged and acquitted.”
Jonathan, who also sent the letter of higher pay for the two aides to the Senate, said:
“I write to request the Distinguished Senate to pass a resolution upgrading the salaries and allowances of the Chief Economic Adviser and the National Security Adviser to be at par with that of ministers as per the powers conferred on you by section 151(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
“My request is predicated on the peculiar nature of the functions the holders of these offices perform. These officials, among other things, chair committees and bodies, whose membership include serving ministers, in addition to their participating at council meetings.
“I am certain that acceding to this request in the manner I solicit will enhance the capacity of the office holders to operate as tasked, and impact positively on the service delivery.’’ The letter was dated July 7, 2011 and entitled: “Request for a resolution on the renumeration and allowances of the Chief Economic Adviser and National Security Adviser.’’
Signs of the face-off with the President became obvious when Tambuwal read a letter in which Jonathan sought approval of the House to upgrade the salaries and allowances of the aides.
Many lawmakers shouted “no, no, no” immediately the letter was read.
Tambuwal quickly asked that the issue be suspended till another legislative day when the letter would have been circulated to every member for proper scrutiny.
This was after he conferred in low tones with his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.
The Rule of the House provides that any letter from the President would be treated on the next legislative day unless a resolution is passed to waive it and take the issue immediately.
Most lawmakers are angry over the alleged slashing of their allowances.
He however announced the names of those principal officers who have been selected to occupy other leadership positions in the lower chamber as Isyaka Mohammed Bawa (Chief Whip), Leo Ogor (Deputy House Leader), Mohammed Ahmed (Deputy Chief Whip), and Femi Gbajabiamila retained the position of the House Minority Leader.
Samson Osagie was made the Minority Whip while Suleiman Kawu and Garba Datti were named as the Deputy Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Whip in that order.
Meanwhile, the House has urged the Executive arm of government to continue to negotiation with leaders of the three unions to avert the planned industrial action by university personnel.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Ismail Hussain drawing the attention of the House to the threat of industrial action by the workers over the failure of the government to implement the 2009 agreement with them.
Elders of the PDP in Oyo State yesterday faulted the junior minister portfolio assigned to Jumoke Akinjide by the President, describing it as unacceptable.
The elders insisted that the President and the national leadership of the PDP had by their actions portrayed the party in the state as an inferior member of the PDP family.
They maintained that the appointment was in furtherance of the unfair treatment meted out to the party in the zone and Oyo state in particular.
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