AT LAST! David Mark Addresses Obanikoro Confirmation

Nigeria’s Senate President, David Mark, has rebuffed
criticisms over the Senate’s decision to confirm Musiliu
Obanikoro as a minister despite being at the centre of an
election rigging scandal in Ekiti state.
It would be recalled that Obanikoro was named in a
leaked tape as one of the key actors in the rigging of Ekiti
State governorship election in 2014.
However, his confirmation as minister came as a shock
with President Jonathan dismissing the Ekiti election
rigging allegation, saying it is a fabrication and bluntly
refusing to order an investigation.

After repeated adjournments, the Senate on Wednesday
confirmed Mr. Obanikoro’s appointment, brushing aside
opposition from many Nigerians and some of its
members.
In his first response after the clearance, David Mark said
on Monday, March 17, that he followed the rules of the
Senate and will not bend them to please Nigerians no
matter how “vociferous or violent” their complaints may
be.
“The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, will
not trample on the rules to satisfy the yearnings of any
interest, no matter how vociferous and violent,” Mark’s
office said in statement released yesterday.
Mark said the Senate treated Mr. Obanikoro as an
accused who remained innocent without a proof of guilt.
He said criticisms from Nigerians over the Senate
process were “needless and misplaced”
“We will like to state without any form of ambiguity that
the President of the Senate complied with all the
legislative practices and procedures in the confirmation
of all the ministerial nominees that appeared before the
Senate,” the statement signed by Mr. Mark’s
spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, said.
“It is important to state that the Senate found herself in a
situation where two of its traditions were in conflict.
There exists a tradition of permitting nominees that had
served as Senators or member of the House of
Representatives of the Federal Republic to take a bow
and go without being questioned.
“The Senate also has a tradition of stopping any nominee
that fails to secure at least two of the three Senators.
“Where the Senate was faced with this conflict, the option
available to the President of the Senate, as the presiding
officer was to put the question to the floor and rule
applicably.
“The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, did
just that. He put the question through voice vote, and
ayes won resoundingly and he so ruled.
“On the issue of courts, Rules 53 (5) of the Senate
Standing Rules did state; ‘if in the opinion of the
President of the Senate, the matter will be subjudice.’
Senator Mark made it clear that he has not been served
any court order neither has he received any injunction
restraining him from processing the confirmation of the
ministerial nominees.
“Besides, it is a known fact that an accused is presumed
innocent until proven otherwise by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
“The processes and decisions reached on the screening
and confirmation of the ministerial nominees were in line
with the rules guiding the activities of the Senate”.
Obanikoro, who is a former minister of state for defence,
allegedly supervised the rigging of the 2014 Ekiti State
gubernatorial election in favour of controversial governor,
Ayo Fayose.
In an audio tape released by Sahara Reporters,
Obanikoro was heard assuring a Major-General of
promotion if he backs the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in the election