Akpabio, Barau disagree on screening of ex-senator for south-south commission board

Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Barau Jibrin, expressed differing views over the screening of Tijani Yahaya Kaura, a former senator, before his confirmation as a board member of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).

Kaura, who previously represented Zamfara north and chair of the senate committee on federal character, was nominated by President Bola Tinubu to represent the north-west geopolitical zone on the SSDC board.

Speaking during plenary on Wednesday, Barau criticised the decision to subject Kaura to screening despite being a former senator.

He noted that the senate ought to have confirmed Kaura’s appointment without subjecting him to the standard vetting procedure.

“The nominee was our colleague here. I don’t know why he went through screening. He should have been expressly given the nod,” Jibrin said.

“He chaired the committee on federal character and was one of us. So, it was an aberration to allow him to go through that process. Mr President, we should guard against this in the future.”

Kaura was eventually confirmed by the senate after a report by the committee on the SSDC found him qualified for the role.

In response to Barau’s concerns, Akpabio acknowledged Kaura’s impressive credentials but defended the decision to go ahead with the screening process.

“We will not apologise for it, but what is worth doing is worth doing well,” Akpabio said.

“I congratulate Very Distinguished Senator Kaura. I hope that he will bring value to the SSDC.”

The SSDC is one of several regional development commissions recently established to address socio-economic and environmental challenges in the south-south zone.