Southeast senators protest bitterly leading to uproar after Buhari's latest list of nominees appears lopsided

LEGISLATORS from the southeast geo-political zone caused an uproar on the floor of the senate yesterday as they objected to a list of nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari saying that it marginalised their region as it was lopsided and not national in outlook.

Yesterday, the senate's plenary session was disrupted and remained rowdy for about 30 minutes after senate president Senator Bukola Saraki, read a letter from President Buhari seeking legislative confirmation of appointments into the board of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency. However, immediately this was done, deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, raised a point or order to protest against the president's appointments of heads of departments, agencies and parastatals.

According to him, the recent appointments made by President Buhari and for which he had sought legislative approval showed that the nominees were from particular parts of the country. Challenging him, however, Senator Ahmad Lawan, the senate majority leader, argued that the appointments were balanced ‎if he looked at the larger picture.

Ruling on the matter, Senator Saraki pointed out that the senate would not act on sentiments and opinion, ruling that the Senate Committee on Federal Character would investigate President Buhari’s appointments and present a report to the chamber. In response, the chamber, however, became rowdy as the lawmakers shouted yes and no in the divisive session.

Apart from Senator Ekweremadu, three other lawmakers from the southeast successively raised points of order to ask the chamber to suspend further consideration and screening of nominees pending the presentation and adoption of the report by the Senate Committee on Federal Character. Those who protested included Senators Chukwuka Utazi, Mao Ohuabunwa and Obinna Ogba‎.

Senator Saraki, insisted that only the report by the committee would determine if the protesters were right or wrong  and if the senate would continue to act on President Buhari’s requests for confirmation of appointments. Since President Buhari assumed office in 2015, the southeast has been very vocal in claiming that he has marginalised the zone with regards to appointments and the execution of federal projects.