Those who won’t be ministers

By Yusuf Alli and Sanni Ologun 30/06/2011 00:05:00

 

 Adeyemi

Adeyemi

As the Senate screens ministerial nominees presented by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice-Chairman, Northern Senators Forum, Senator Smart Adeyemi, in this interview with the Managing Editor Northern Operation, YUSUF ALLI, and SANNI OLOGUN, warns lobbyists even as he gives a hint about those who will scale the screening hurdle. Excerpts:

Can you speak about the level of preparedness of the senate for the screening of the ministerial nominees going by the petitions that have flooded the Upper Chamber? 

We have been under intense pressure by lobbyists and political hired mercenaries to stop some nominees from being cleared or to disqualify some nominees by asking questions to embarrass them. They have given many of us sleepless nights with offer of millions of Naira for us to discredit some nominees. But to some of us, this will not in anyway affect the screening. The screening will follow the normal pattern. We have also noticed that there are political opponents and those whose business interest is being threatened by the reforms are involved in this crusade so as to settle business score. I believe that majority of the Senators that I have interacted with believe in President Jonathan’s transformation programmes and will not allow any of us to be used. Those who are prepared to spend millions to disqualify some nominees or the transformation agenda of the President should invest their money in charity work and leave the Senate alone. 

Many of us will be very much on the alert to ensure that money is not allowed to play any role in this screening. We have been told that some people should not be allowed to pass through the screening  because they  carried out reforms that will empower Nigeria, rather than foreign interest. In this crusade are some multi-national companies and their agents who feel that some re-nominated ministers, who were part  of the reform programmes  aimed at empowering Nigerians as regards local content in the process of industrialisation, should be stopped in order to kill such reforms. Even those of us that are perceived to be radical will not in any way make ourselves available for embarrassing  any nominee except of course where such nominees display incompetence.How do you react to allegations that some persons are planning to ensure that some senators compromise in order to have a smooth sail during the screening while others are trying to ensure that some of the nominees are disqualified by the Senate? 

What are you going to do when a case of clear non-performance is established against any of the former ministers? 
None of the re-nominated Ministers had any problem with their committees at least to the best of the knowledge of the Senate. I say this as a Senator, who did not miss one day of not being in the National Assembly but missed only four sittings due to flight delay. In essence, I was part of every discussion, every issue in the last four years in the Senate. 
Are you saying that you are  acquainted with the ministers’ performance?
Yes; I had an idea of all the performance of these ministers. There is no gainsaying the fact that there is need for total reforms in the Transportation, Oil and Gas, Housing and Power Sectors and these sectors require highly intelligent and courageous ministers and of course, some will be retained for continuity. Those whose business interests are being threatened should get to understand that the majority of my colleagues are aware of their scheme. Therefore, lobbyists are advised to steer clear of lawmakers or they will be exposed! 
How do you hope to checkmate these lobbyists? 
We, at the National Assembly will  oppose further attempts to lure us to stake the future happiness of Nigerians  by attempting to scuttle the confirmation of otherwise qualified nominees.  We shall resist the temptation for the sake of the nation and the Nigerian spirit. 
How do you hope to achieve your objective of ensuring that only the right nominees are cleared by the Senate? 
This objective can only be achieved by ensuring that appointments  are based  on qualification and merit.
However, it is disheartening to note that intense pressure is being mounted on some of us,  who are perceived to be outspoken, in order to becloud our sense of judgement. The antics of lobbyists and horse traders have become unbearable lately as they have offered huge sums of money to some lawmakers in a bid to derail them from toeing the path of justice in the confirmation of nominated and re-nominated ministers.