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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume (1324 Views)
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Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by sultan457: 5:22am On Oct 22, 2015 |
ABUJA — AHEAD of today’s screening of former
Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi;
Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume,
yesterday, lampooned senators elected on the
platform of his former party, the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, saying that the 8th Senate
belongs to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
According to him, the PDP should note that it has
become a minority, a situation where the majority
would always have its way, warning that PDP cannot
disqualify Amaechi based on what he described as
triviality instead of the constitution. He added that
Amaechi has not been convicted by any court of
law.
Ali Ndume boasted that the Senators will determine
the fate of Amaechi and not the report of Senator
Samuel Anyanwu-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges
and Public Petitions, adding that Deputy Senate
President, Ike Ekweremadu would not have presided
yesterday because APC ministerial nominees were
being screened, which explained the adjournment.
Ndume spoke amid strong indications, yesterday,
that PDP and APC senators will flex muscles today
over Amaechi. While the APC senators have insisted
on screening and confirming Amaechi for a
ministerial appointment, the PDP Senators have not
shifted grounds on the position they took on
Tuesday to frustrate the screening of the former
governor.
Today, Chairman, Committee on Ethics, Privileges
and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP,
Imo East) will submit the reports of his committee
on petitions against the nominees including Amaechi.
According to a PDP Senator, who spoke with
Vanguard, the report will be up for discussion and
votes will be taken in support or against Amaechi
being screened and cleared.
The senator, who noted that if the voting favours
that Amaechi be screened as opposed to their
collective decision, they would as a caucus stage a
walk out and allow the APC senators do what they
want to do.
PDP senators to review pact with Saraki
The Senator told Vanguard that the PDP Senators
who formed an alliance with Senate President
Bukola Saraki prior to his election and which led to
his emergence were planning to review the unwritten
agreement.
On whether the PDP senators were aware that if the
Senators failed to screen or reject Amaechi by
October 29 upon the expiration of the 21 working-
day constitutional deadline, the former governor
would automatically become a minister, the Senator
said “we will not allow that to happen” as PDP
Senators.
The Senator continued: “The report of the
Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions
will be laid tomorrow (today) and there will be
voting on whether or not to accept that Amaechi be
screened. The voting will determine the way forward
and if the voting says he should be screened because
APC wants and PDP as a caucus thinks we should not
screen Amaechi and if the APC insists, PDP
Senators will stage a walk out.”
Another PDP Senator, who spoke with Vanguard, said
that the issue has to do with 21 working days which
is like a month, adding that the position of PDP
Senators is about the law and the society, adding
that the National Assembly is a theatre of politics,
but as law makers, they must be cautious.
According to the Senator, the PDP senators were
standing on Section 66(h) which stipulates that
when indicted by a panel, the person cannot occupy
any public office.
Section 66(h) says: “No person shall be qualified
for Membership of National Assembly and Right of
attendance if he has been indicted for
embezzlement or fraud by a judicial Commission of
Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a
Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act…”
The PDP senators are also citing section 53(5) of
the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as Amended on
why they will work against the clearance of
Amaechi.
Section 53(5) of Senate Standing Orders 2015 As
Amended reads: “Reference shall not be made to
any matter on which a Judicial decision is pending,
in such a way as might in the opinion of the
President of the Senate prejudice the interest of
parties thereto.”
The screening would have taken place yesterday, but
the Senate suspended sitting to allow senators
accompany Senate President, Bukola Saraki to the
Code of Conduct Tribunal where he is facing trial
over alleged false declaration of assets.
For the third time since it began the screening of
ministerial nominees, the Senate on Tuesday,
postponed the screening of Amaechi.
We’re not against Amaechi— Sen Ogba
Also, a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics
and Public Petitions, Obinna Ogba, has denied
allegation that the committee was against
Amaechi’s confirmation.
He equally debunked insinuation that the delay in
releasing the report of investigation on Amaechi,
which resulted in the delay in his screening was as a
result of sharp division among members of the
committee on the report.
Reacting in an interview, yesterday, with Vanguard,
in Abuja, Senator Ogba, who represents Ebonyi
Central in the National Assembly, under PDP,
insisted that there was no disagreement among
members of the committee.
We will determine Amaechi’s fate not Anyanwu’s
report – Ndume
Answering questions from Journalists, yesterday, on
the issue, Ndume said Amaechi would be cleared.
His words: ‘’The Ethics and Privileges report is not
the determinant of Amaechi’s fate. It is the
Senate. Even if they write their report, it has to be
laid before the Senate which will decide on the
report. It is not the report that will decide the fate
of Amaechi.
“Whatever the Committee recommends to the
Senate, it is the Senate that will decide. And I have
told Nigerians several times that this Senate
belongs to APC. We have PDP senators that are in
the minority. We are practising democracy in a
changed environment. That is to allow the minorities
to have their say. But you know that the majority
will always have its way. We have 58 senators, the
Senate President excluded, and they have 48
Senators.
“And Amaechi is an APC candidate and the
constitution is very clear. Until there is conviction,
you are considered innocent until proven guilty
beyond reasonable doubt by a competent court of
law. Unfortunately, you cannot confirm or disqualify
Amaechi, we are the only ones that can do that.
And PDP cannot disqualify Amaechi based on
triviality. It must be based on constitutionality.”
On why the plenary was suspended, Ndume said:
“The Senate President has a pending case before
the Appeal Court which judgement was suspended
indefinitely. We, therefore, thought that the lower
court will suspend today’s (yesterday’s) sitting as
the Senate President has to be in court by 10.00am.
He is the Presiding Officer and this is an
extraordinary period because we are screening
ministers who are predominantly APC. So, that was
why we said this screening should continue with the
Senate President presiding. So, we are continuing
tomorrow (today) by God’s grace.”
When told that the Deputy Senate President was
supposed to have presided in the absence of the
Senate President, the Senate leader said: “This is
not a normal day because we are screening APC
nominees and there are issues surrounding it. The
Presiding Officer is the Senate President who
started the screening and we said we would continue
after taking a day off and continue tomorrow
(today)”.
Speaking on the senators’ solidarity with the Senate
President at the tribunal, Senator Ndume said: “It
was not a solidarity as such. This Senate does not
belong to Saraki, Senator Ali Ndume or anybody.
The Senate is an institution, an independent arm of
government and should be respected and
strengthened. Besides, if the President takes his
time to submit the (ministerial) list, which Nigerians
patiently waited for why will Nigerians not be
patient with the Senate to wait for its conclusion?
And why don’t you take us on issues other than
these trivialities? Suppose we had said we are
suspending the screening till next week, we have the
right to do that.
“But the constitution is guiding us that we have to
do this within 21 working days. And we are still
within the 21 working days. It is not 21 days, it is
21 working days. And our working days in the Senate
plenary is three days in a week. So, if you are
talking about 21 working days, it means that the
Senate will do this within seven weeks because we sit
for plenary Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
That is three working days. It means that logically,
we can do this up to seven weeks.”
“The ministries have not been streamlined yet to
know where they are going. I don’t even see an
issue out of it. I was thinking that by now, we will
be talking about ideas not about people and events.
It won’t move this country forward. We are supposed
to be talking about the screening details.” Source:www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/pdp-senators-cant-stop-amaechi-ndume/ 1 Like |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Siddeek: 5:24am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Oh really? |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Aufbauh(m): 5:30am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Interesting |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Id4Jesus: 5:45am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Ameachi will surely be screened. The only difference btw Ameachi and the screening is just TIME 2 Likes |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Osezzua(m): 5:47am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Things are gradually falling in line 1 Like |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by wonderkid619(m): 6:08am On Oct 22, 2015 |
like seriously ***thinking out loud |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Nobody: 6:10am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Wow interesting. We thought the "change" mantra meant no hijacking of Nigeria by political parties? Wow..finally, the truth is out, we've been scammed |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by ajbabs(m): 6:11am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Seriously thinking aloud |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Busari132(m): 6:12am On Oct 22, 2015 |
I must watch the screening live and direct because of amaechi , Nass here I come. |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Ayoswit(f): 6:18am On Oct 22, 2015 |
K |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by ziccoit: 6:19am On Oct 22, 2015 |
A man can not be crucified under Nigeria law by a white paper or panel but an indictment from a competent court of law. Amaechi has not been indicted by any court of law. Why all this cry. Amaechi case is actually 90% politics of river state orchestrated by Wike et all and 10% other factors. 2 Likes |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by dBard: 6:25am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Ndume is being quite careless insinuating that Amaechi will b screened regardless of the committee's report forgetting that based on the platform of Change, of which they were elected, and d supposed intolerance to corruption, the populace is watching and how this is handled will determine how seriously we take this gov't. The screening has largely been a farce, Amaechis case is d final test. Whether screened or not, it should be done in a way that pays credence to the Change we expect |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by princemillla(m): 6:29am On Oct 22, 2015 |
dBard: Has amaechi been convicted by any court of jurisdiction? Until he is , he remain innocent. Let's not mix mere speculation (allegations), with court indictment. Until proven by court , he deserves every right to be screened as a minister nominee 2 Likes |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by erunz(m): 6:47am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Ndume should just shut up, the 8th senate belongs to Nigerians and not APC. Ameachi has questionable character, and his screening will mock APC fight for corruption. If Dieziani and Oduah were labeled corrup by APC and there supporters even without any court conviction. Why is Ameachi different. #watchthechange 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by fleshbone(m): 7:01am On Oct 22, 2015 |
If there is one thing am sure of, its Amaechi being the Minister of Niger-Delta. Just like Obasonjo making Kwankwaso Minister of Defence so that he can deal with some top Kano people who made his second term bid a failure. |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by ORACLE1975(m): 7:21am On Oct 22, 2015 |
K |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by staymore: 7:23am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Out of all the nominees, Amaechi has not been screened because he has been indicted. If change is really worth reckoning with, then situations like this should be dealt with accordingly. Ndume shouldn't sound as if nothing can stop Amaechi from being screened today, not even the report of ethics and privileges committee of the senate. All eyes on NASS today. |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Rebelutionary: 9:17am On Oct 22, 2015 |
staymore:The position of the law is that only an indictment by a COURT of competent jurisdiction can stop his confirmation not a PANEL! Why is Wike and Co not in court? They kno they have no option but to confirm him and if they dnt d countdown is for 21 days and he becomes a minister! |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by staymore: 9:31am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Rebelutionary: That is one section of the constitutional provisions that requires amendment. The 21days countdown signifies the nominee is questionable and contrary to automatically becoming a minister, should have been disqualified. |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Rebelutionary: 9:40am On Oct 22, 2015 |
staymore:On the issue of law, there are no sentiments. If Wike has credible empirical evidence against Amaechi, he owes it as a matter of responsibility to take it to court instead of counting on senators to frustrate his confirmation! It is my opinion dt all ds cross fire arguments for and against Amaechi ministerial normination is unnecessary cos d law is clear. On the d 21 days window for confirmation, I believe it is perfectly ok. This is to keep the upper house from the taking a minister "hostage" indefinitely for political blackmail! |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by staymore: 10:06am On Oct 22, 2015 |
Rebelutionary: Wike is not holding Amaechi's screening, other nominees were petitioned as well as Amaechi and have been cleared and screened, eg Shittu. The ethics and privileges committee report on any nominee will be submitted to the senate to decide, so Wike is very unnecessary in the whole issue at hand now. |
Re: Amaechi Is Our Member, The Senate Belongs To APC Not PDP – Ndume by Rebelutionary: 11:14am On Oct 22, 2015 |
staymore:You dnt seem to get my point. Where did d petition emanate from? A fallout of the Panel setup by wike right? If He knows he is nt ready to go d whole hog by going to court and giving the petition bite, whats d point settin up d panel in d first place? It becomes an unnecessary distraction havin those senators make noise about that petition! |
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