Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, called his colleagues to order as the Senate erupted in a rowdy scene during the screening of the nominated Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, Rtd.
NewsBits reports that upon Musa’s appearance before the Upper Parliament, Sani Musa, representing Niger east, proposed that he be allowed to “take a bow and go”. This did not go down well with some of the other lawmakers, who insisted that they must be allowed to ask the nominee some questions.
Several senators rose to their feet, insisting that ‘bow and go’ would not be allowed. As tempers rose, Senate President Godswill Akpabio halted the push, reminding lawmakers that the screening was a serious exercise that required public interrogation.
He said Nigerians expected to hear from the nominee directly, given the scale of the country’s security challenges. Akpabio said, “Our constituents would like to hear from him. We are asking him questions because our constituents would like to ask him questions too,” Akpabio said.
“This is not a period we should say bow and go. Even Donald Trump is on our neck. With over 200 children in the bush being tortured, give the man an opportunity to give Nigerians hope. It is not like we don’t like him.”
NewsBits recalls that Musa, a former chief of defence staff, was on Tuesday nominated for the position of Defence Minister by President Bola Tinubu. He is expected to be sworn in upon his confirmation by the Senate.
