Ministerial screening: Presidency lobbies PDP senators

Sequel to the official announcement of ministerial nominees by the Senate, indications emerged on Tuesday that the Presidency may have decided to lobby the senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to support the nominees.
The Senate spokesman, Senator Dino Melaye, had disclosed that the era of “bow and go” was over for nominees in the Nigerian Senate.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, said on Tuesday that he has initiated contact with PDP senators as part of his duty to reach out to all sections in the National Assembly.
Enang stated this when he briefed journalists in Abuja in company with the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Enang said both of them decided to brief journalists together for “the sake and interest of Nigeria”.
He said: “Part of our job is to reach out to all the sections.
“And the past is gone.
“This is a new beginning.”
Akpabio, on his part, said he is impressed by the ministerial nominees President Muhammadu Buhari sent to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation as ministers.
The Minority Leader said: “We will do our best to ensure robust debate, finetune the policies of the All Progressives Congress 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 per cent of the list should pass through.”