Posted by By ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Abuja on
Ahead of this weekend's proposed retreat for ambassadors designate slated to hold in Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross River State, there are strong indications that the Senate may at its plenary tomorrow (Tuesday) clear the duo of former presidential aspirant of the PDP, Brigadier-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) and Senator Polycap Nwite, since former Aviation Minister, Mrs Kema Chikwe had, going by the disputed report of the Senator Jubril Aminu-led Foreign Affairs Committee, been recommended for confirmation.
•May clear Marwa, Nwite tomorrow
Ahead of this weekend's proposed retreat for ambassadors designate slated to hold in Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross River State, there are strong indications that the Senate may at its plenary tomorrow (Tuesday) clear the duo of former presidential aspirant of the PDP, Brigadier-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) and Senator Polycap Nwite, since former Aviation Minister, Mrs Kema Chikwe had, going by the disputed report of the Senator Jubril Aminu-led Foreign Affairs Committee, been recommended for confirmation.
This is coming on the heels of continued insistence on the part of the other members of the 12-member committee with the exception of the chairman that the panel had indeed cleared the duo of Marwa and Nwite even before Aminu submitted his report last Thursday.
But to the chagrin of the members of the committee, Aminu submitted on the floor of the House last Thursday that owing to an undisclosed security report, Marwa and Nwite could not be cleared.
However, a senator who pleaded anonymity told Daily Sun on phone when contacted yesterday evening that 'I would have asked you to quote me, but I don't want to be seen pre-empting the decision of the Senate.
If you notice, the mood of the Senate last Thursday was for the three nominees to be cleared in the committee of the whole Senate, which is taking the work from the committee completely.
'But because of the respect the Senate President has for Senator Aminu, he provided an opening for him so that the committee could be given a second chance. What it means is that once Senator Aminu repeats what he did last Thursday this Tuesday, the senators would certainly move against him and set aside his report, while the Senate would decide the fate of the nominees right there on the floor," the senator added.
Another senator who also spoke with Daily Sun wondered why a senior citizen like Aminu will want to use a national assignment to settle political scores with perceived foes.
'You wonder whether the same security report that supposedly stopped the screening of Marwa, Chikwe and Nwite initially has changed now that one of them has been cleared. You again ask, has another security report been written on Chikwe that allows Aminu to recommend her or somebody is simply using his office to blackmail another," the senator asked.
He said the Senate under the leadership of David Mark will not allow itself to be used to achieve as unwholesome agenda, adding: 'We are well mobilized to resist any further attempt to use a mere allegation in the name of security report that has not been proven in any law court to blackmail anyone or distrupt our job as lawmakers. Justice has to be done and rule of law followed in all our efforts."