Don’t play politics in screening of ministerial nominees, Okpozo tells Saraki

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM
BENIN CITY-SECOND Republic senator and elder statesman, Senator Francis Okpozo, has admonished the senate President Bukola Saraki not to play politics with the screening of the nominees, saying the interest of Nigerians must come above their personal interest.

Okpozo who was reacting to fears that the frosty relationship between the senate President and the leaders of his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) may frustrate the screening of the nominees warned that such action may not only put the senate in bad light before Nigerians but they face the wrath of Nigerians who voted massively for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Okpozo who also is a leader of the APC in Delta State, said “anybody who has open mind and interest of this nation, could not on his own create a situation of obstructing any arm of the government.

Every aim of government is for the betterment of the nation and the people. Especially those who are in that nation.

“If the process adopted by Mr President in forwarding his nominees to the President of the senate is obstructed by the lawmakers, then the interest of the senators is not for the good of the nation. Such action is myopic, it is unethical and it is injurious to the wellbeing of the entire nation”.

He stressed the need for both the executive and the legislature to “unite and resolve their differences if there are any so Nigeria can move forward.

The friction between the President and the Senate President cannot override the collective interest of Nigeria because both of them are elected by Nigerians.

“It is my hope that the President of the senate and his team will not hinder the screening of the Ministerial nominees. This does not mean, that the senate has no legal and moral right in screening the people. It is their constitutional right to do so.

But let them do it with an open mind and for the interest of the nation so that the President’s nominees are not rejected. No quarrel last forever. It is good they tolerate one another for the interest of Nigerians and should forgive one another” he stated.