Ministerial Screening: Senator Raises Strong Petition Against El-Rufai

Tuesday’s ministerial screening featured a confrontation between Nasir El-Rufai and Senator Karimi Sunday of the Kogi West Senatorial District.

The Senate started screening the ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu for subsequent confirmation on Monday. The former Kaduna state governor is one of the 28 nominees submitted by Tinubu to the senate last week.

Members of the Upper Chambers of the Senate questioned El-Rufai on issues involving power and energy.

When asked to speak, Kogi West Senatorial District Senator Karimi Sunday presented a petition against the former FCT minister.

His words: “Your performance in any office you found yourself in this country has been outstanding, In BPE, your record is there, In FCT as a minister, your record is there, and as a two-time governor of Kaduna state;

“…you did well but I have a very strong petition against you, and that borders on security, unity, and cohesiveness of Nigerian nation and I think that petition should be considered along in this screening exercise.”

Senator Barau Jibrin, who serves as the deputy senate president and is the ministerial screening chair, received the petition from Karimi.

Later, the Senate President took the floor but chose not to discuss the petition. The order was given for Governor El-Rufai to “take a bow and leave.”