From Victor Osula, Abuja
There was a mild drama at the Senate during the screening of General Chris Musa, Ministerial nominee for Defence on Wednesday.
Senator Sani Musa, Niger East, had risen to request that the former Chief of Defence Staff should be allowed to ‘ take a bow and go,’ in the usual treatment for executive nominees appearing for screening.
His motion was met with uproar as Senators clamoured to be allowed to ask the nominee questions. Àkpabio has a hectic time trying to restore order.
Even Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) had to storm the Senate President’s desk, insisting that Musa must be questioned, especially given the country’s deepening security crises.
Akpabio would have none of it: He stood up, voice rising with emphasis on every word of his statement:
“This is not the time for politics of ‘bow and go’. Even Donald Trump is on our neck. We’ve not asked him ( Gen Musa) what his response will be to Donald Trump. A nominee for Minister of Defence, and you stand up and say he should take a bow and go, with so many questions on the mouth of Nigerians and over 200 children still in the bush and being tortured. (Kidnapped Pupils of St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State).Let’s give the man the opportunity to give Nigerians hope.”
Even so, the questioning and answering session was as perfunctory as before and the new Minister was cleared within the hour.
