‘There’s strong petition against you’ — lawmaker tells el-Rufai at senate screening

Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi west, on Tuesday, presented a petition at the senate against Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state.

Karimi submitted the petition against el-Rufai during the special plenary, as the former governor was being screened for a ministerial position by the upper legislative chamber.

The lawmaker said the petition borders on security, unity and cohesiveness of the country.

“Your performance in any office you find yourself in the country has been outstanding. In the bureau of public enterprises (BPE), your record is there, in FCT as a minister, your record is there, and as two-time governor of Kaduna state, you did well,” the senator said.

“But, I have a very strong petition against you that borders on security, unity and cohesiveness of the Nigerian nation.

“And I think that the petition has to be considered in this screening exercise.”

Karimi then proceeded to lay the petition before Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president, who was presiding over the screening exercise at the time.

Jibrin said he was not sure if Karimi followed the normal process to present the petition, but added that the petition would be considered later.

“I don’t know if you followed the normal process, but this is the opportunity for nominees to explain and showcase themselves, later we will come to confirmation and approval,” he said.

Other senators commended el-Rufai, noting that the former governor is competent enough to be minister.

Ibrahim Kalid, representing Kaduna north, said he and his two colleagues from the state as well as all the residents are in support of el-Rufai’s nomination as minister.

“The resolve from the three senators from Kaduna state in consultation with the people across political divides is that we should support the nomination,” he said.

Kalid asked his colleagues not to ask el-Rufai any more questions, because he has the experience needed to be a minister, adding that the former FCT minister should be allowed to “take a bow and go”.

“I want to urge the senate to consider this and based on the precedent that was established yesterday — the two governors who appeared — nobody asked them questions because of their pedigree. El-Rufai should take a bow and go,” he said.

Sani Musa, senator from Niger east and Danjume Goje, lawmaker representing Gombe central, supported Kalid’s request that el-Rufai should “take a bow and go”.

El-Rufai was asked to “take a bow and go” after he answered a question bordering on power generation asked by Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara state.