Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio on Tuesday blocked a petition against the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, saying that nominees appearing before the Senate for screening were nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Akpabio’s statement was at the backdrop of Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Sunday Karimi’s revelation during his contribution that there was a petition against the Nasir El-Rufai.
“Distinguished colleagues, perhaps I have to inform all of you that I have received similar petitions from people against other nominees, but this is not where we are to deal with petitions. Our job here is to screen and of course, we can refer petitions to where petitions will be dealt with.
“They are nominees of Mr. President, if it something that there is a formal petition before the Senate, we will look at it formally, but there are certain petitions we have to refer the presidency or the security agencies to look at it and that has nothing to do with us.
“By the time we will go into confirmation, we will be so advised. So I want my brother to take a bow and go and don’t bother to explain the petition.”
Speaking earlier, and being armed with a petition in an envelope, Karimi after praising the former governor raised an envelope in full glare of Senators and submitted to the leadership, when the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau was presiding.
Karimi said: “Mr nominee, you did well in your previous offices and there is no doubt about that, but there is a petition against you”, which after raising the envelope, he submitted it to the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau who was presiding at the time, El-Rufai was being questioned.
El-Rufai who was number three on the list of nominees to be screened today appeared and addressed the upper legislative Chamber on his political and educational profiles and also on his struggle for a democratic society which however turned awry against him that he has to go on exile.
As Senators spoke for and against the nominee, Senator Khalid Ibrahim Mustapha representing Kaduna North Senatorial District, where El-Rufai hails from, lauded El-Rufai for his performances in public offices in the past.
The Kaduna lawmaker who is of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP urged Senators to allow El-Rufai to take a bow and go.
Similarly, Senator Sani Musa representing Niger East in lending his support to the nominee, said, “everybody here can attest to the credibility of the nominee when it comes to performance of every assignment he has undertaken in parts of this country. He is not different from every other person that have appeared before and took a bow and go.
“They are two other governors that have appeared before us for screening and there is a convention in Chambers like this and I want to propose that Malam Nasir El-Rufai should take a now and go.”
Meanwhile, nominees listed for screening on Tuesday are:
Senator David Umahi – Ebonyi
Mr Adebayo Olawale Edun – Ogun
Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai – Kaduna
Arch Ahmed Musa Dangiwa – Katsina
Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji – Enugu
Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete – Delta
Mr Dele Alake – Ekiti
Mr Adekola Adebayo Adelabu – Oyo
Mr Muhammad Idris – Niger
Dr Doris Anite Uzoka – Imo
Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN – Kwara
Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo – Akwa Ibom
Hon. Hannatu Musawa – Katsina
