Confusion in Senate over confirmation of Marwa, Chikwe, Nwite as ambassadors

Taiwo Adisa and Soji-Eze Fagbemi, Abuja - 25.01.2008

There was confusion in the Senate on Thursday over the move to confirm the former military administrator of Borno and Lagos states, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa; former Minister of Aviation, Dr. Kema Chikwe; and the former governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Senator Polycarp Nwite.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Jubril Aminu, had, while presenting the report of the screening of the trio, recommended only Chikwe for confirmation, while he was silent on the duo of Marwa and Nwite.

The report, which generated a lot of furore in the Senate chamber, was later returned to the committee to reconsider and report on Tuesday.

Senate President, Senator David Mark, who presided over the session, said the security report must be made public but that any of the nominees who did not want the security details made public could withdraw his nomination.

The report had sparked condemnation from members of the committee immediately after it was presented by Senator Aminu as no fewer than six members of the committee dissociated themselves from the report.

Senators Victor Ndoma-Egba, Bob Effiong, Osita Izunazo, Zainab Kure, Felix Bajomo and Bode Olajumoke, who are all members of the committee, dissociated themselves from the report and declared that the committee actually recommended the three nominees for confirmation.

Senator Effiong said though he was a member of the committee, he was aware that the members recommended the three nominees for confirmation and that none of the committee members have seen the report before its presentation by Aminu.

Senator Osita Izunazo said he agreed with the submission of Senator Effiong and declared that the committee recommended the three nominees for confirmation after the screening last November.

Senator Ndoma-Egba, who raised the issue of security report, said the Supreme Court had concluded the issue as only convictions can stop anyone from being confirmed into public office.

Senator Izunazo also said he participated in the screening of the committee, but was surprised that the report was not made available to members of the committee and that only the chairman of the committee signed the report.

Confusion further crept into the floor of the Senate when members started making general comments on the report. Senator Smart Adeyemi, who sparked the exchange of words between senators and Senator Aminu, called for the dissolution of the committee which he said had failed to demonstrate courage in the report.