…says El-Rufai not democratically qualified for ministerial position
By Akubulu Ngozi
One time Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has alleged that, Nigeria National Assembly, NASS has fallen out of the democratic standard and duty administration, saying that the ministerial screening process not properly scrutinized.
The Senator made the claim during an interactive session in News Arise Television, following the on going ministerial screening.
According to him, it is unfortunate, how some Senators that are expected to dispose their duties rationally have allowed their emotions and sentiments to becloud their judgement.
He said, “if you are keen watcher of events in the parliament globally you would see how the level of presentation in Nigeria parliament has fallen seriously. If you watch the US Congress and how they drill a political appointee in order to serve in the judiciary, you will wonder whether you should call ours a parliament.
“When you appear before the British Parliament, they would ask you about your achievements in office, your conduct in the society, drill you about what other people say about you, your utterance, your conduct, your history, you would be interrogated publicly because you are about to be given a position of authority that represents million of people. When a nominee appears before the parliament, he is asked about issues that concerns his family, how he has responded to issues, these are brought to the table of judgement under a democratic system.
“In Nigeria, what is happening at the national assembly now is unfortunate. The idea during our time, we don’t care if you were sent by the President or not, what we are doing is to make sure that the National Assembly does it job as an independent Arm of Government that has the constitution binding it.
“The President has sent names of nominees it is very disgraceful to see senators standing up and saying, I know this person, he is my friend, he is my class mate he is going to do this or that and because of that, doesn’t mean if you are his Governor, he should take a bow.
Commenting on Nasiri El-Rufai’s nomination, Shehu said that, the President’s choice of El-Rufai is appuling, claiming that, he lacks integrity and have no respect for the rule of law
He said, “For somebody like Nasiri El-Rufai, I was surprised that Tinubu would bring such a person after he has promised to bring men of competence, integrity and honour. There are countries in the world where what you say only can deny you a position for life.
“For eight years when El-Rufai was the Governor of Kaduna State he showed he is one sided, a religious bigot. He has a history of consistently disobeying court order and misappropriation of public fund.”