The Senate on Thursday finally screened former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, after weeks of tension and horse-trading.
No sooner had he taken a bow after the exercise than hundreds of supporters who had stormed the National Assembly break out in celebration.
Waiting to wrap her hands around the ex-governor was his wife, Judith, whose public display of affection went viral on the internet.
“It was a security nightmare getting Amaechi out of the Senate chambers,” Ovation Publisher, Dele Momodu tweeted.
Amaechi 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 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 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators would not have any question for the nominee.
Consequently, the Majority Leader, Senator Ali 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”.
While fielding questions from the senators, Mr. Amaechi said he disliked corruption, adding that he was not indicted in the whole report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry of Rivers State.
“There is nowhere in the report of the Judicial committee, not (even) the white paper by the governor, that I am indicted for corruption,” he said.
“If they send a girl to you to do something for her and you sleep with the girl, you are corrupt,” he said to the amusement of Nigerians following the screening on television and social media.
Speaking on the APC victory in the last presidential election, he said the party was able to sell to Nigerians that there was massive corruption in the previous government.
“So we let Nigerians know that the only solution was to change government. And then, we presented a signpost candidate who is incorruptible.”
On Niger Delta problems, he assured that the East West Road would be his top priority if he is appointed minister for the region
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.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of APC has expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Nigerians across the nation for the unprecedented support privately and openly expressed towards Amaechi’s successful screening.
The APC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Chris Finebone recalled that the screening of Amaechi became the foremost topical issue of political discourse in the past couple of weeks since his nomination by Buhari.
“With the eventual screening of the nominee by the Senate today, we do believe that all lovers of Rt. Hon. Amaechi, President Buhari and the APC would joyously put the suspense of the past days behind them and move on,” the statement said.
The APC thanked members of the Nigerian Senate for carrying out their constitutional responsibility with candour, maturity and in line with the law.
“Again, we would like to state that we are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and recognition for the former governor by all shades of the Nigerian populace and would like to assure everyone that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi would continue to identify and fight for the interest of the ordinary Nigerian even as he becomes a Minister in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari” the statement said..
