President Muhammadu Buhari has submitted the second batch list of ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation ahead of the Tuesday date for commencement of screening by the Senate. The latest development may have been spurred by intelligence report that a section of the senators was hell-bent on frustrating the screening process if all the 36 nominees are not presented to the senate as required by the constitution.
Senate President Bukola Saraki confirmed receipt via his Twitter handle Monday afternoon.
“Few minutes ago, on behalf of @NGRSenate I received the 2nd batch of #Thelist of #MinisterialNominees,” Saraki tweeted.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari in company of the Presidential Aide on National Assembly (Senate), Ita Enang, delivered the sealed envelope to the Senate President.
Our usual Presidency and National Assembly sources were tight-lipped about the identities of the nominees but a reliable insider familiar with the issue disclosed that former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (Ondo) made the list. Others are former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Barr Mohammed Bello (Adamawa); former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun) who was said to enjoy the backing of APC in his state; former Chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC, Chief Festus Odimegwu (Imo), he was said to being compensated for openly rebuking the PDP, a party that once appointed him to the office of Chairman of the NPC; former ANPP governorship candidate in Abia, Ikechi Emenike (Abia); also on the list is former spokesman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Osita Okechukwu (Enugu);
Others on the list include: Hadiza Abdullahi; Adamu Adamu (Bauchi), Hajia Bukar Ibrahim, the former first lady of Yobe State (Yobe); Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa); James Ocholi, SAN (Kogi); Anthony Anwuka, a professor of education administration, who was secretary to the government of Imo state; and Isaac Adewole, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology. Others are Dan Ali, a brigadier-general who was retired in 2013; Okechukwu Enelamah, the CEO of African Capital Alliance; and Claudius Omoyele Daramola, a professor of sociology of education, from Ondo state.
The President had earlier submitted 21 ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Reading out the 21 names last week, Senate President Bukola Saraki had announced that their screening would commence on Tuesday, October 13.
It is expected the names on the second batch list would be read out at plenary on Tuesday prior to commencement of screening.
The move by the President has finally doused tension among some senators who had voiced their disapproval over the incompleteness of the list as their states were not among the first batch.
