Reports that senators elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may block the confirmation of some of his ministerial nominee was given some credibility as President Buhari on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 reportedly approached PDP senators seeking a “soft landing” for the nominees.
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According to Vanguard, the President is said to be very worried that if he does not intervene, some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who were instumental to his victory at the election would be frustrated by the PDP senators.
Buhari sought the PDP senators’ support by sending his Senior Special Adviser on Senate Matters, Senator Ita Enang to the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio.
After the pair met, they addressed newsmen.
AKpabio said: “We will do our best to ensure robust debate, fine-tune the policies of the APC administration to better the lots of Nigerians and to ensure that Nigeria gets out of the current economic doldrums.
“So far, on a personal note, I am impressed with the list that was sent by the President. I believe that he has kept to his word by ensuring that we sought out a lot of people of integrity that can salvage the country.
“But of course, the Senate will still do its work of screening and re-screening, and I pray that more than 70 or 80 percent of the list should pass through.”
On his part, Ita Enang said: “Part of our job is to reach out to all the sections. And the past is gone, this is a new beginning.”
In a related development, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, whose name made the list of ministerial nominees engaged the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and current governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal to approach Senate President Bukola Saraki in order to have a smooth sailing in the screening process.
A meeting between Mohammed and Tambuwal was reportedly held late on Monday, October 5, 2015 between the trio at Saraki’s residence in Maitama, Abuja.
