There was an uproar in the Senate following complaints against alleged lopsided appointments into the federal boards and parastatals by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Soon after the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki read a letter from President Buhari on the appointment of former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Tunde Lemo as Chairman, Board of Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, the Managing director and six others as members, the deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu raised a point of order.
Senator Ekweremadu who referred the Senate to section 14(3) of 1999 Constitution, picked holes in the appointments of chairmen of boards without recourse to federal character principle, with a particular zone of the country which is Southeast being neglected and marginalised.
According to Senator Ekweremadu, the action of President Buhari was totally unacceptable to him because the leadership of these agencies were coming from a particular part of the country.
Ekweremadu who noted that he was not against anyone, but against the non-adherence to federal character principle in line with the constitution and for national unity. At this point, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan in his intervention said that whenever the government sends a list containing the list of appointments, the government does its work very well.
It was at this point that the hallowed chamber became very rowdy as there were reactions, shouts from the Senators. Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki tried to bring down the tension and the rowdy nature, describing the issue as speculations, adding that what has just happened was a letter from the President.
Saraki then gave the Senator Tijani Kaura, APC, Zamfara led Committee on Federal Character time to investigate the issues raised by the deputy Senate President and report back at plenary next week Tuesday, adding that the probe would ascertain if there are such cases or not.
VANGUARD
