Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has challenged the National Assembly on the need to be courageous and shun party affairs in handling Nigerian matters, following the appointment of the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors. 

Mr. Wike, in a statement shared on his Twitter handle Wednesday afternoon, berated the senators for clearing ex-service chiefs for another appointment after having previously condemned them for poor performance as security chiefs.

The service chiefs were confirmed on Tuesday after the chairman of the foreign affairs committee Muhammed Bulkachuwa presented a report for the consideration of the upper chambers.

President Muhammadu Buhari had quickly nominated the immediate past service chiefs for appointment as non-career ambassadors after they were controversially removed from their positions.

On Wednesday, senators also confirmed Abdulrasheed Bawa as the head of EFCC, even though he was facing corruption charges and was once arrested for theft of public assets.

“I wonder why Senators who agreed with Nigerians when they decried the poor performance of the Service Chiefs will sit to cleared them for another appointment,” Mr. Wike said.

The Eighth Senate has faced public ridicule as a ‘rubber stamp’ of the executive since it first convened in June 2019, with Mr. Nigerians lamenting the days when the parliament was a force that counterbalanced powers at the federal level. 

But Senate President Ahmed Lawan often rejected claims that his leadership has been weak, saying he would only confront Mr. Buhari when necessary. The politician said he does not subscribe to suggestions that the legislature is best effective when it stands in major contrast to the executive. 

While reiterating his displeasure Mr. Wike: “We must be courageous in whatever we are doing. Everything must not be party affairs.”

“You (Senators) sat and discussed that they should dismiss the service chiefs. You said they’re not performing. Now the same people who were not performing, you have confirmed them as ambassadors. What kind of country are we,” the governor said.

Speaking further, Mr. Wike appealed to the Senate to always “remember that there is tomorrow; our conscience is key.” 

“It’s not because I want to be a loyalist to a party. No. There are things you cannot reconcile at all,” he said.