Twenty years after he was screened as Ministerial nominee, Nasir El-Rufai is back at the National Assembly for the same purpose. The odds are however different this time as Kogi West Senator raise issues about the former Kaduna Governor
READ ALSO: Take A Bow: Borno Ministerial Nominee screened without uttering a word
As Senators continue the screening of ministerial nominees on the second day of the exercise, the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Karimi Sunday, raised a petition against Nasir El-Rufai.
Upon admittance into the Red Chamber, Nasir El-Rufai; the immediate past governor of Kaduna State and a former Minister in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, presented his profile and achievements in public office.
Shortly after his presentation, Senator Karimi stood up with a brown envelope in his hand as he told the Red Chamber that he had a petition written against El-Rufai bordering on insecurity and national cohesion in Southern Kaduna.
READ ALSO: Ministerial Screening: 7 Things you should know about the process
“Mr. President, I have a petition written against the nominee over the issue of insecurity in Southern Kaduna when he was governor. If I am permitted, I will like to read the petition,” the lawmaker remarked.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who refused to permit reading of the petition, stated that a number of petitions were similarly submitted against a number of the ministerial nominees.
Senator Akpabio further added that any of the lawmakers in possession of a petition against any nominee should drop it with him, stressing that the nominees are from the President.
READ ALSO: Ministerial list: Beyond mere rituals, as Nigerians await Tinubu’s ‘(wo)men’
“The job of the Senate is to screen and that there is a different committee to treat petitions,” he said.
According to him, if the petitions are substantial, it will be referred to the necessary security agencies.
“This is not the place to consider petitions, we will sit with the petitions later and refer them to relevant authorities. Please, take a bow, my brother,” the President of the Senate noted.
