It’s going to be rigorous, Saraki tells nominees

Senate President Bukola Saraki has asked ministerial nominees that would undergo screening at the upper chamber next week to be fully prepared because “it’s no longer business as usual”.

Speaking on Saturday when he led a delegation of the senate to the Ikenne home of the Awolowos over the demise of HID, the matriarch of the dynasty, Saraki said the exercise would not be about “who you like or who you don’t like”.

The senate president said  his colleagues were looking forward to the screening, saying the interest of Nigerians is the only priority.

“It’s not going to be business as usual.  We will go with the constitution, the rules, we will put Nigeria first,” he said.

“Screening will be done with level of seriousness and what we are all about is our constitutional responsibility to ensure that we find people who are fit enough to be ministers and particularly this time, to give President Buhari the support he requires.

“It is not about who you like or who you don’t like and I want to assure Nigerians that we will not be be biased, it will be based on the constitution and based on ability and our own assessment of capacity of the nominees to perform.

“And I assure you that individual differences would not be an issue at all, and we have spoken with senators and told them that.

“Be rest assured that we will do a good job that Nigerians would be proud of.”

He described HID Awolowo as a great woman, an icon and mother for all, adding that, that made the senate to mandate him to lead the delegation on a condolence visit to the family.

He recalled the influence that the deceased had on politicians, irrespective of party difference.

“Normally, as our tradition, we send a delegation, but, for mama she deserved this even more is for the entire senate represented by the presiding officers to be here in person I lead that delegation. That is why I am here in person,” he said.

“The country, not the family that has lost a great person, she was a great person because since the death of papa for so many years she continued the life of virtue, and his dreams she has sustained over many years.

“I can say that, because just few months ago we were here during the period of our campaign and I don’t think there had been a campaign in this country that politicians will not stop here to pay respect and honour.”