The Senate on Wednesday postponed the screening and confirmation of nominees of President Goodluck Jonathan to fill the vacancies in his cabinet after receiving series of petitions and opposition by some senators against former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.
Right from the day he was listed as one of the eight nominees, some senators had vowed to go against his re-nomination, citing his alleged activities regarding the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun as well as the violence that greeted some rallies in Lagos where he hails from.
One of such petitions from the Nigerians United To Save Democracy, said Obanikoro had questions to answer regarding the misuse of his earlier position as Minister of State for Defence.
Dated 12th February and submitted to the Senate on 17th February, the petition signed by the National Coordinator, Mubo Adebayo, and Secretary, Toyin Raheem, described Obaikoro as a danger to democracy.
The group submitted an an attached audio CD and transcript of the leaked meeting some top members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had with some military men a night before the Ekiti governorship election.
“First as he has recently been exposed – as defence minister, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro commandeered soldiers sent to Ekiti State to provide security for the electorate, INEC officials and materials in the 2014 governorship election in the state to assist in rigging that election in favour of his party’s candidate, Ayo Fayose.
“The same tactics was employed in Osun election in August 2014. Evidence of this can be found in the court processes filed at the election tribunal. Senator Obanikoro achieved this by clampdown on opposition party members and officials by soldiers on his orders in conspiracy with his PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) members, notably Ayo Fayose, Chris Uba, Senator Iyiola Omisore, one Brigadier Momoh, and others.
“The brigadier who, as could be inferred from recorded conversation of the exposed conspiracy, wanted to perform his duty without favouring any candidate, but was forced and threatened to compromise the impartiality of his duty in Ekiti State,” the petition stated stressing that this was against Section 147(5) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 66(1)(a) of same constitution.
“To preserve the dignity of the hallowed Chamber of the Senate, the Red Chamber should refrain from considering Senator Obanikoro for ministerial position,” the group said adding that Obanikoro would misuse his office and use his powers to muzzle opposition if made a minister.
