A controversial message posted on the Twitter handle of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday night, sparked a serious controversy which forced his media team to make clarifications that further provoked critical reactions from Nigerians, on Tuesday.
Saraki, in his tweet, said that President Muhammadu Buhari did not require the approval of the Senate to nominate the country’s service chiefs.
He specifically said it was not the business of the Senate to approve the appointment of service chiefs.
Saraki was reacting to the President’s statement on Monday that the newly-appointed service chiefs would function in acting capacity pending the Senate’s approval.
He noted that the upper chamber could only approve the appointments of ministers and heads of Federal Government agencies.
The Senate President wrote, “Appointment of service chiefs is an exclusive function of Mr. President. Senate can only approve ministerial, parastatals etc.”
But while reacting to the controversy generated by the statement, Saraki’s media team said those who made comments on the social media over the issue actually misinterpreted Saraki’s message.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the Media Office of the Senate President has been drawn to a story making the rounds to the effect that the Senate does not need to screen or confirm the new service chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“However, we want to make it abundantly clear that based on inquiries made from the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on whether the Senate was consulted before the appointment of the new service chiefs was announced, he had in response tweeted that the appointment of service chiefs is the exclusive function of the President as stipulated by the constitution.
“Let it be known that his comment is now being misinterpreted to say the Senate will neither screen nor confirm the new service chiefs. This is far from the truth.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Saraki has said his comment is without prejudice to the extant laws and court pronouncements on the issue and that the Senate will do the needful when the list of the new service chiefs is sent to it by Mr. President.”
Punch reportage
Politics!
ReplyDeleteNot interested.
Dullard. Na only man and fashion you sabi.
DeleteAnon u are mean.... but atleast she sabi 2 na
DeleteSaraki goofed so he should'admit it instead of trying to twist the story.
Delete'A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, had on July 1, 2013 ruled that any appointment of Service chiefs by the president without
approval of the National Assembly is unconstitutional and illegal.
Justice Adamu Bello declared the appointments of the service chiefs without National Assembly’s approval as null and void because they did not conform to Section 18 (1) and (2) of the Armed ForcesAct, Cap. A20, Laws of the Federation. The case, instituted by Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, had challenged the practice of appointing military chiefs by the President without seeking the approval of the National Assembly.
Mr. Keyamo had argued in court that the appointments of service chiefs, which are political appointments, could not be different from other political appointments that require the confirmation of the National Assembly such as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justices of the Supreme
Court and Court of Appeal, Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; ministers, and so on.
Based on that judgment, which has not been appealed till date, GEJ sought and got the approval of the National Assembly in January 2014 when he appointed Alex Badeh as Chief of Defence Staff, Kenneth Minimah as Chief of Army Staff, Usman Jibrin as Chief of Naval Staff and Adesola Nunayon Amosu as Chief of Air Staff.'
Anon 17:16 and u are??
DeleteWhat an epistle.
maka why
ReplyDelete#GODWIN™
Obi!
DeleteWhatever jareh, Buhari has already fired and hired new service chiefs
ReplyDeleteHe goofed.
ReplyDeleteWhen something is said to be exclusive, it means that is the only thing required or needed.
Why is he trying to twist his tweet.
Anyways, it shows he was sleeping throughout the last senate.
Goodluck to him surviving the next four years.
Exclusive is relative. Exclusive to who? The senate cant appoint service chiefs, thats exclusive to the president. The senate only confirms whoever the president nominates
DeleteLet peace reign and let country move forward nangha
ReplyDeleteYea...I doubt if there has ever be a time where security chiefs appointment was meant to be approved by the senate. It used to be an exclusive decision taken by Mr. President.
ReplyDeleteTo me whether senate were meant to approve it or not, it changes nothing. Let them just get down to work and let peace raign again.
Check out:Reasons why some ladies will remain single for life
What are they saying?.
ReplyDeleteThat is the same question I am asking here
DeleteLol.
DeleteIt's like Saraki says the price of tomatoes may likely come down on monday.
Walai u dey craze lmao
DeleteViva, lol.....I hope so too, tired of ofe akwu.
DeleteNa dem sabi
ReplyDeleteWhy tweet that in the first place??? Hian!
ReplyDeletea.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said..
ReplyDelete.
Saraki no want wahala at all.. So make people stop dey disturb themselfs...
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
Why don't you own up and admit honesyly that it was a mistake than hiding behind one finger. Nigerians see your senate president . All liars go to hell
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you own up and admit honesyly that it was a mistake than hiding behind one finger. Nigerians see your senate president . All liars go to hell
ReplyDeleteAre you from Congo?
Deleteokay
ReplyDeleteSaraki do the needful and stop behaving like a mumu everytime. talking nonsense
ReplyDeleteVery nice of him.
ReplyDeleteSemantics : great source of boredom!
ReplyDelete'by' and 'from'
'with' or 'where'
'on' or 'within'
'of' or 'for'
'bla' or 'blabla'
Enough of this 'press governance'!
And word play.
Why should a senator be tweeting like a bird? On controversial issues?
Before you know it now, after we finish commenting, his media team will come out with their usual "The attention of the senate president has been brought/called to the...", who always calls their attention? Same sentence everyday, doesn't his press manager ever get tired of the sentence? Lmao. .Lingering on trivial, trifling issues while the economy rusts
He goofed already. Appointment must be subject to senate's confirmation.
ReplyDeleteEvery time one commotion or the other from these APC people sef. Oshisco
ReplyDeleteSocial media is becoming more interesting day by day.
ReplyDeleteThis saraki will definitely make dis government ungovernable
ReplyDeleteFoolish local girl Claris,what do u know abt government? Olodo
DeleteBia, this anon, take it easy nau
DeleteThat means Mr President has not read or read the constitution, rules,regulations of being a President but has not understood. I wonder why he sought the approval of senate. Smh!
ReplyDeleteLet peace reign in dis country atleast Mr President.
All these politicians, always speaking with one side of the mouth
ReplyDeleteGoodluck to the new service Chiefs
ReplyDeleteRead between d lines pple. He's saying the President has appointed his men and theres nothing the Senate can do about it. When they dont perform, the President should be held SOLELY RESPONSIBLE. D subsequent explanation is jst a cloak.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry oh but I just discovered dis blog and loving it!! Its like u guys re family here. Its nice!!! Pls how do I create a blog I D! I want to use cool name too.don't know how to edit my google act name. And wen I tried to use open I D it gave me one kind story like dt. Pls help a Bro out. Thanks
ReplyDeleteUse google
DeleteI nid 2 edit my too. Itz my full name dt shows. Maybe u should post in In IHN. This post won't get comments mine says it contains illegal character
ReplyDeleteAv tried. Can't still figure it out
ReplyDelete