Much Ado About A Ministerial Screening

We have placed a lot of premium on the ongoing Senate screening of the nominated Ministers of the Change government of Buhari, simply because it is a new and different party and federal government that has assumed office on the back of the cry and promises of CHANGE.

But after the screening, what then?
What has been the benefit or the effect of tens of previous screenings in the last 50 years?

Check this out:

Nnamdi Azikiwe 1960-1960 NCNC
Dennis Osadebey 1960-1963 NCNC
Nwafor Orizu 1963-1966 NCNC
Joseph Wayas 1979-1983 NPN
Iyocha Ayu 1992-1993 SDP
Ameh Ebute 1993-1993 SDP
Evan Enwerem 1999-1999 SDP
Chuba Okadigbo 1999-2000 PDP
Pius Anyim 2000-2003 PDP
Adolphus Wabara 2003-2005 PDP
Ken Nnamani 2005-2007 PDP
David Mark 2007-2015 PDP
Bukola Saraki 2015 -? APC

(Nwafor Orizu was the only Senate President of Nigeria ever to ascend to the Nigerian presidency through the constitutional order of succession. He was later forced to handover power to Aguiyi-Ironsi military junta)

Since 1999, really, it has been a rubber-stamp affair, embodied by bribery and corruption, hustling and lobbying, falsehood and insincerity, forgery and deceit.

So after the screening, what do we have? Corrupt, ineffective, incompetent, un-knowledgeable, square pegs in round holes ministers to direct the affairs of government, hence the dire situation we find ourselves today.

I think what we are hoping for this time is that we do not fall into the same chasm of mistakes. But with this particular 8th Senate, as they like to call themselves, (they have not changed in morals and political attitude and maturity, anyway, only some of the names there have changed), the screening has assumed important proportions to give themselves some measure of dignity and trying to assume some facade of respectability.

To me, despite many supposedly potentially good ministers screened so far, their screening might well be an exercise in futility and deception. Just my opinion.

Akintokunbo A Adejumo MSc, Dip Mngt, CIHM, MCMI, FITP