Two senators have rejected the appointment of Michael Odey,
a Cross River indigene, as chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral
Commission (RSIEC).
The senate confirmed Odey on Wednesday following the
submission of a report by Bamidele Opeyemi, the majority leader and chairman of
the ad hoc committee on the Rivers emergency rule.
Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, objected
to Odey’s nomination, citing concerns about regional representation.
“My observation is in regard to Clause 311, even though you
are coming to it,” Ningi said.
“I have personally approached the senate leader as to the
propriety or otherwise of bringing in someone from another state to chair a
local election body.
“The senate leader had time to discuss with me. And he told
me initially; they also raised this observation.
“But later on, they were brought copies of supreme court judgments as to the legality — that anybody can work anywhere in any part of the country.
“Mr chairman, let it be a record that myself, Sir Abdul
Ningi, object and observe that if this thing becomes the norm, it is not going
to do well going forward.
“Because I’ve been to Rivers state almost 40 years ago, and
I know the quality of people in Rivers state.
“I do not see any logical reason why a Rivers man would not
chair this electoral commission.
“The committee has reported. I’m okay. But let it be on
record that I, for one, don’t see the necessity of having somebody from another
state chairing a local election committee of another state.”
Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, also echoed
Ningi’s concerns.
“Let it be on record that I, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, am
not against the appointment of whoever you recommended,” he said.
“But under the current circumstances, and the fact that if
today you want to interview 100 or even 1,000 qualified people for this
position from Rivers, you will get it to choose from.
“The federal character, section 14.3, reflects that. And as
he (Ningi) rightly said, we should not, as a senate, just approve or think that
what is being done is not against the constitution.
“We are supposed to be guided by more than the constitution.
We are supposed to be guided by the conscience.
“We are the highest decision-making body in this country
politically. Please, please. I beg you in the name of God, because the history
will be there.
“If there is nobody appropriate — if the argument you are
giving me now is that you want to get somebody out of Rivers so that the person
that will be in charge of this will be unbiased in any way — that is a
different thing. But the people should be carried along.”
Jibrin Barau, deputy senate president, who presided over the
plenary, described the opposition against Odey’s confirmation as “politics”.
He cited Benson Ojeikere, an Edo-born technocrat, who is
currently serving as head of service in Abia state.
Despite the protests, Odey was confirmed as the chairman of
RSIEC.
Odey came under scrutiny at the senate on June 17 over his
state of origin when he appeared before the ad hoc committee on Rivers
emergency rule.
During the session, members of the committee questioned the legality and appropriateness of appointing someone from Cross River state to head Rivers’ electoral commission.
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