“The crime committed by David Mark in that unholy and damaging confirmation is more than tearing of the national flag. It is less criminal to take Nigerian flag to the public and tear it off than a Senate President confirming a criminal to serve as a minister.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has alleged that the confirmation of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as minister under the present circumstance is no less than threatening the nation’s security, murdering justice and setting agenda for President Goodluck Jonathan.
Reacting to the circumstance that surrounded Obanikoro’s confirmation at the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Lagos Assembly expressed surprise and dissatisfaction at the confirmation of Obanikoro.
In a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Segun Olulade, the House accused the Senate President, David Mark, of stage-managing the confirmation of the ex-Senator.
According to the statement, “In an attempt to show loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mark has failed to thrive in glory and honour as President of the senior chamber of nation’s legislative arm of government.
“In a bid to show undue and dishonorable loyalty, the Senate President has dragged his esteemed status in the mud by stage-managing a passage for the ministerial nomination of Musiliu Obanikoro even when it is obvious that the nominee is battling with serious integrity issue laden with insecurity, rigging and fraudulent acts.
“The crime committed by David Mark in that unholy and damaging confirmation is more than tearing of the national flag. It is less criminal to take Nigerian flag to the public and tear it off than a Senate President confirming a criminal to serve as a minister.
“Especially, when such person is being designated to take security portfolio like Minister of State for Defence with the plan to return him to do more serious damages against the nation during the forth-coming general election by supervising rigging using the Army.
“We are sure neither the American Senate President nor head of the British Parliament could take such awful and criminal decision against the ethics of their respected offices and against the nation’s overall interest,” the statement read in part.
The House, while wondering why President Jonathan’s administration was constantly in the short supply of “credible personalities” that can serve in his government, reminded the Senate President that the Senate has in the past refused confirmation of non-credible nominees with lesser controversial records than Obanikoro.
“We want to sincerely commend the APC Senators for their doggedness and steadfast against injustice by refusing to endorse Obanikoro as a Minister.
“We believe history will reckon with their patriotic efforts in the future while same history will continue to trail the PDP legislators who are submerging nation’s larger interest for their party’s terrific agenda”, the statement added.