A founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Tanko Yakasai, has said that in the list of ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by the President, there are fantastically corrupt persons.
Yakasai in a statement issued in Kano, on Tuesday, Yakasai said that “the list makes mockery of the President’s anti-corruption war.”
He maintained that the returning Ministers might not be able to inject fresh ideas needed into the cabinet.
“The new Ministerial list submitted by the President to the Senate is representative enough, but the nomination of certain people perceived to be fantastically corrupt, made mockery of the President’s war against corruption.
“The fact remains that the returnees are many, means that the policy of the new government will not be much different from that of the outgoing.
“My only observation is that since the majority of the nominees are already known to the President, his delay in submitting Ministerial nomination is unjustifiable.”
In a swift reaction, a former Special Adviser to Buhari on Legislative Matters, Abdulrahman Sumaila disagreed with him, arguing that, the Ministerial list reflects “competence and credibility.”
Speaking with Journalists in Kano, Abdulrahman debunked allegations of corruption and lopsidedness on the list, saying that, the President has justified his constitutional responsibility.
“Remember the President has said he will only appoint persons he is familiar with, and that is what he did”, Sumaila said.
“Those on the list are capable hands well known to the President, especially those from Kano, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, a traditional title holder and illustrious Farmer, and Major-General Magashi.
“And those saying the President’s list is not balanced, are not aware of the constitutional right of the President. The Constitution says the President should appoint one person each from the States, which he did. Again, the President has the prerogative to appoint any other persons from anywhere.”
