FINALLY, AMEACHI SCREENED FOR MINISTERIAL POST

After weeks of politicking, the Senate on Thursday finally screened a former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

He was the first to be screened by the Upper Chamber among the six nominees listed on the Order Paper for the day.Addressing the Senate, Amaechi said he was humbled to have been nominated by the President Muhammadu Buhari to serve as well as considered it as a rare honour to address the Senators whether or not he becomes Minister.

He also highlighted few of the achievements recorded during his tenure as Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly and as Governor.

As soon as Amaechi made his introductory remarks, the Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, came with a Point of Order, saying the PDP Senators would not have any question for the nominee.

Consequently, the Majority Leader, Senator Alli Ndume, said since the PDP Senators would not have questions for Mr. Amaechi, he could as well be allowed ‘to take a bow and go’.

This suggestion by the Senate Leader however generated uproar as he referred to those who wanted to ask questions “You People”.  Those aggrieved by his presentation protested and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki had to apologise on his behalf.

Thereafter, Senators were allowed to ask questions and he took a couple of questions before he was asked to ‘take a bow and go’.Mr. Amaechi’s screening had been controversial following a petition sent to the Senate by Integrity Group in Rivers State.

The petitioner had requested the Senate not to screen Amaechi, saying he has been indicted of corrupt practices by a Panel of Inquiry set up by Governor Nyesom Wike administration in the state.But, the Committee on Ethics and Petition headed by Senator Sam Anyanwu, had dismissed the petition on the basis that the case is still in court.However, rather than going ahead to screen him, the Senate kept postponing it, fuelling speculation that it may have to do more with politics than logistics.