The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insists that former governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is not qualified to be appointed as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The PDP said that the combined effect of Sections 66 (1) and 147 (5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and read together, disqualifies Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State from becoming a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In view of the foregoing, it is instructive to spell out the constitutional provision which states as follow:
Section 66 (1) (h) states thus: “No person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or the House of Representatives if he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunal of Inquiry Act or a Tribunal of Inquiry Law or any law by the Federal Republic of Nigeria or State Government which indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government respectively”.
Furthermore, Section 147 (5) states thus: “No person shall be appointed as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria unless he is qualified for election as a member of the House of Representatives”.
Suffice it to hold that Section 147 (5) as spelt out above unequivocally states that what qualifies or disqualifies a member of the House of Representatives applies to a Ministerial Nominee, for which former governor Chibuike Amaechi is one.
The PDP states that Hon. Justice George Omereji Judicial Commission of Inquiry indicted Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and the report is accepted by the Rivers State Government and the White Paper duly issued.
Against this background therefore, the PDP further insists and submits that by the provisions of the
law as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi is not qualified to be a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
