Former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muiz Banire (SAN), has dismissed the objection of his nomination as chairman, Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) by the three Senators representing Lagos State.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of the former Lagos transport commissioner was opposed by Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Olamilekan Solomon and Gbenga Ashafa.
But in a statement released on Wednesday, Banire said he does not desperately need a political job to survive and would not join issues with the lawmakers.
“I am blessed with so many alternative contact addresses and consequently, do not desperately need a political job to survive. It is those who are professional politicians and whose survival depends on such that can be so threatened. Here I am, a professional in politics,” he wrote.
“Of course, if this is a continuation of the consistent harassment, intimidation, and threat to gag my advocacy for good governance and the rule of law, the effect, unfortunately, is otherwise. It strengthens me further and makes me resolute in my crusade. I shall continue to interrogate and agitate issues of good governance and rule of law, regardless of whose ox is gored.”
According to him, it is only those who are professional politicians and whose survival depended on such that could be so threatened.
“Recent developments relating to my nomination as Chairman of Board of Directors of Asset Management Corporation by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, the President & Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, GCFR, have opened a new page in my public life necessitating some sort of public engagement.
“However, except for the agitation of my teeming supporters and well-wishers, I would have kept mute and ignored the objection raised by the three Senators, Chief (Mrs) Remi Tinubu, Mr. Olamilekan Solomon, and Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos State on the floor of the Senate arm of the National Assembly.
“In the first place, let me recognize the constitutional right of the three Senators to express their views without let or hindrance. It is part of the democratic tenets we all cherish and strive to protect at all times. Equally, because of the respect I have for the offices of the Senators, I will not join issues with them, particularly when it has become traditional and conventional for them to be objectors on occasions such as this. All I can say is that I wish them well and remind them that no dynasty or empire lasts forever. Whatever has a beginning will have an end.
“However, it is necessary to point out to interested/concerned members of the Nigerian citizenry that my nomination in the first place is not a quota appointment (as the three politicians and distinguished Senators may have wrongly perceived) requiring their special approval to deal with. I was nominated simply as a Nigerian in whom the appointer has a lot of confidence and who is prepared to give his all in service of his fatherland.
“In view of this, I urge all my well-wishers to remain calm in the face of this provocation as I am optimistic that the proper thing will ultimately be done by the Senate as has been done in the past. They should please not engage them on any street contest. It would be recalled that similar objection did not succeed in preventing the confirmation of Olusegun Aganga, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and even Musiliu Obanikoro as Ministers, even when, unlike in my case, their Ministerial positions were Constitutionally mandated to be filling Lagos State quota representation in the Federal Executive Council.
“I am already demonstrating through my activities and engagements in several other spheres that I do not need to occupy a public office to add value to our community and nation. My relevance does not lie in public office or wealth. I have said it that I will continue to challenge the warped order till the ultimate change comes, sooner than later,” he added.
