The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele has appealed to the Senate President to always ensure that the nominations of President Muhammadu Buhari for Senate’s confirmation, is always critically scrutinized in order to ensure that there is compliance with the principles of federal character.
He stated this on the floor of the Senate as a point of order, noting that it is brought to the fore pursuant to Order 43 of the Senate Rules (permitting personal explanations) and Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
Meanwhile, he stated that it is not his intention to generate any controversy, being part and parcel of every decisions being taken in the Senate but it’s a matter of significance.
Furthermore, he stated that it is imperative to place it on record for the people to know that “our loyalty to Mr. President (Buhari), our loyalty to our ruling party, our loyalty to you, Mr. President of the Senate as someone we believe will lead this 9th Senate to a higher level and you’re doing well, but in order that members of the public do not mistake this loyalty as being in conflict with our loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, adding that pursuant to Section 14(3) of the Constitution establishing the principles of federal character, “that this Senate please do resolve to encourage and further mandate Mr. President of the Senate_ going further when letters come asking us for confirmation of nominees by Mr. President (Buhari)” for the Senate President to first go through the nominations before same is presented to the members of the Senate “and advise Mr. President (Buhari) where it appears that the federal character known to our Law” has not been complied with to do the needful.
Also, he stated that six geopolitical zones is not known to the Constitution but “what is known to our Law and our history as a nation is a Law amalgamating the northern and southern protectorates of Nigeria and each of these protectorates has three geo-political zones by our convenient arrangement that we have today”, adding that “anytime appointments are being made that will involve DG & Chairman, DG as Chief Executive, Chairman as Chairman of Board, or Chairman and Executive Secretary, that federal character be understood the way it was intended by the makers of our Law, the Constitution, our forefathers and that be taken into consideration”.
