Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West, took a stand during the ministerial screening on Tuesday, opposing the nomination of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
After El-Rufai’s presentation, Karuuuimi stood up and informed the chamber that he possessed a petition against the former governor concerning the issue of insecurity in Southern Kaduna during his tenure.
Holding up a brown envelope, Karimi stated, “Mr. President, I have a petition written against the nominee over the issue of insecurity in Southern Kaduna when he was governor. If I am permitted, I will like to read the petition.” El-Rufai faced questions from the lawmakers immediately after Olawale Edun.
Before the questioning began, El-Rufai outlined his achievements as governor and former FCT minister. The first lawmaker to question him was Senator Abdulaziz Yari, representing Zamfara West. Following Yari’s question, Senator Suleiman Kwari, representing Kaduna North, appealed to his colleagues to allow El-Rufai to take a bow, indicating a show of respect for his past roles.
El-Rufai answered Yari’s questions, after which the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, asked him to leave. However, Akpabio refused to accept the petition, explaining that numerous petitions had been submitted against several ministerial nominees.
He assured that the petitions would be addressed later and referred to the appropriate authorities. Akpabio then invited El-Rufai to take a bow as a gesture of concluding the screening process.
