We Will Confirm Service Chiefs Within Two Weeks – Bamidele

By Iyojo Ameh in Abuja

Following the constitution of the Senate leadership, the Senate Majority leader, Opeyemi Bamidele has disclosed that the red chamber will screen and confirm the appointment of the new Service Chiefs and other appointments made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Senator Bamidele who disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing Journalists shortly after the plenary session
said the Senate is now ready for full legislative activities even though he admitted they still need to constitute committees before the end of the month.

He also hinted that within the week, the Senate will constitute Selection Committee that would later constitute all the Committees in the Senate.

According to him “The new leadership has emerged for the 10th senate and all I can assure you on behalf myself and my dear colleagues is that we see it as an assignment. It is an assignment that we take very seriously.

“By the grace of God we will be able to make a difference that will be positive that will be worth the effort of all of you that worked with us in ensuring that the two presiding officers emerged in a manner that was not rancorous, in a manner that was not only democratic but transparent.

“But of course, the emergence of the remaining principal officers of the 10th Senate was not an issue that was meant to be decided on the floor but rather it was an issue which on the one hand as related to the APC needed to be decided among the critical stakeholders of the party.

“In our party the APC, everything is in order. What was read today was a consensus,” Bamidele said, admitting that it was an unusual situation that is growing Nigeria’s nascent democracy.

“It was an unusual situation that showed the growth of democracy in Nigeria. Votes of Nigerians are beginning to count,” Bamidele said of the number of opposition lawmakers they have from seven political parties.

Meanwhile, the Senate Leader also explained the method adopted by members of six political parties for the emergence of the minority principal officers saying that it was not entirely political parties affairs.

“On the other hand, with respect to the minority parties, again it wasn’t entirely a party affair. Because it wasn’t a typical situation where you have one opposition party but rather six political parties were involved.

“50 of our colleagues were involved so rather than it being a decision to be taken at the secretariat of political parties it was more of a decision taken by members who were elected on the platform of the six minority parties and 38 of them by virtue of their signature took a decision as to who their leaders will be and of course this was also communicated to their respective political parties and as democrats all the presiding officers did was to follow suit because more than a single majority had decided.

“It had been a no victor no vanquish situation. We are happy eventually a leadership has emerged for the 10th senate”, said Bamidele

“For us the next task is to ensure we hit the ground running so that from tomorrow we are able to take steps that will show that we have a clear understanding of what is to be done, the first task ahead of us is to constitute special committees of the 10th Senate. Our rules make provision for six special committees.

“Before long, during the month of July we will have all the committees special and standing committees are properly constituted so that every senator can get busy based on their own professional background can properly fit into the sector where they can add value.

“We are ready to attempt to correspondence from the executive.”

Meanwhile, the Senator representing Plateau Central, Diket Plang, has said that they will ensure that the service chiefs appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are screened very well to know their capacity in stemming the security challenges in the country.

According to Plang, the service chiefs won’t “take a bow and go,” because Nigeria wants capable hands to tackle the worsening insecurity in the country.

The service chiefs appointed by Tinubu include the Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General C.G Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Major- General T. A Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff, AVM H.B Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla; and acting Inspector-General of Police, DIG Kayode Egbetokun.

The appointees must undergo Senate screening and confirmation.

But speaking to journalists after the plenary, the Plateau Senator who spoke on his motion on the need to tackle insecurity, said the 10th Senate is a collection of wise people adding that they will ensure that the issue of insecurity that is eating deep in the country is tackled. .

“It is only when we are safe that we can worship. On the issue of the service chief screening, no one will be allowed to take a bow and go.

“We will insist the service chief tell us their plans and what they intend to do. Those that are coming as service chiefs, must come with a dream to resolve the problem,” Plang said, adding that the 2023 general election has brought a lot of positive impact, adding that he is now seeing hope for Nigeria.

“My house in the village was attacked twice. Kidnappers kidnapped my mother, my step mother, domestic staff and killed my younger brother. I secured the release of my mother and step mother,” Plang said while narrating the effect of insecurity.