A ministerial nominee, Pastor Usani Usani Uguru, on Tuesday drew the ire of some senators with his utterances at the ongoing screening exercise.
Uguru and the senators had been exchanging banters at the introductory segment of the exercise before the nominee seemingly shot off tracks.
The nominee mentioned names of some senators with whom he traversed the political landscape during the last electioneering campaign.
Incidentally, most of the senators he mentioned were member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At a point, one of the senators interjected, asking Uguru, “were you interacting with the PDP too?”, to which Uguru replied “God forbid.”
Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio (PDP), raised objection to the nominee’s statement.
Coming on a point of order, Akpabio described Uguru’s outburst as derogatory to members of the PDP.
His objection drew reaction from other PDP senators. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) declared that the nominee did not submit his assets declaration papers along with his documents.
This, Abaribe said, was in violation of one of the rules set for the nominees by the Senate.
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP Abia North) also raised issues with the nominee’s tax papers. Waving the tax papers, Ohuabunwa said the nominee obtained his tax clearance certificates for three years in just one day.
The senator said the implication was that the nominee was not paying his tax as when due and as such, should be disqualified without delay.
But the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, came to the nominee’s rescue when he cited the 5th Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution to back Uguru’s action.
Ndume said by virtue of the provisions in that Schedule, a public office holder may submit his asset declaration papers before taking appointment, or within 30 days after taking office.
But many other senators still complained over Uguru’s “God forbid” phrase, and were in the process of pushing their grievances further when the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki intervened.
Calmly, Saraki was able to douse the tension. Turning to the visibly ruffled Uguru, the Senate President gesticulated to him to apologise to the PDP senators.
A contrite Uguru then said in a subdued tone, “I am extremely sorry.” Though the screening exercise continued, the nominee did not regain composure for the remaining part of the exercise.
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