The Senate on Tuesday commenced the screening of ministerial candidates nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was gathered that only 10 nominees will be screened today, Tuesday October 13 while others will be screened on Wednesday and Thursday
They are: Udoma Udoh Udoma, Kayode Fayemi, Audu Ogbeh, Ogbonaya Onu, Osaghie Ehanire, Abdulrahman Dambazzau.
Others are Lai Mohammed, Amina Mohammed, Suleiman Adams, Ibrahim Jibril.
First to be called before the lawmakers is a former lawmaker himself, Udoma Udoh Udoma, who represented Akwa-Ibom South constituency from 1999 to 2007 in the upper legislative chamber.
After answering a few questions on investment, the former senator was asked to ‘take a bow and go’.
The former governor of Ekiti State, Mr John Olukayode Fayemi, who served as governor from 2010 to 2014, was called next to defend his nomination.
A few questions ranging from the role he played in operating an ‘illegal radio station’ during the military regime and alleged sinking of Ekiti State into huge debts during his time as governor of the state were asked.
Questions about security, internal revenue generation and policies during his time as governor were also raised. He debunked reports that he ran the economy of his state aground, while he served as governor.
Fayemi, one of the 10 ministerial nominees currently being screened by the Senate today, said he governed Ekiti with transparency and accountability.
Responding to a thought-provoking question asked him by Sen. Olusola Adeyeye (APC Osun Central) to clarify newspaper reports that he left Ekiti in debt, that he spent too much money on the Ekiti Govt House, Fayemi said they were all rumours, stating that the government house was built with just N2.5 billion.
The ex-governor said being one of the youngest states in Nigeria, without a government house for 19 years, the magnificent Government House he saw in Akwa Ibom, when he visited former Governor Godswill Akpabio, enticed him to embark on the project to give Ekiti State, a befitting Government House.
Fayemi added that the controversial N50 million bed in the government house wasn’t purchased at that price. According to him, none of the beds in the government house cost above N1.5 million.
After answering the questions extensively, the former governor was asked to ‘take a bow and go’.
After the former governor left, the former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party and Benue State nominee, Chief Audu Ogbeh was invited to face the screening exercise.
Chief Audu Ogbe, on Tuesday, advocated that Nigeria should immediately begin to invest more on the agricultural sector in order to provide jobs for the rising population, as well as boost investment opportunities.
Audu Ogbe who was reacting to questions posed to him by Senators, decried the nation’s current economic reality. Also, lamenting the nation’s current attendant population, as well as in the next 35 years, the former Minister said the future is bleak if nothing is done now. But a question to him by Senator Emmanuel Bwatcha, PDP, Taraba South, to explain whether he was forced at gun point to resign as PDP chairman, during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure as president, was avoided, as he failed to answer it.
Shortly after his reactions, Senators led by Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, asked him to take a bow.
It was a kind of comedy session when the Senate President Bukola Saraki asked Lai Mohammed, a nominee from Kwara to introduce himself, and shouts of ‘bow and go’ rented the air.
Senate Leader Ali Ndume moves that Lai Mohammed bows and go but Saraki asked that Senators allow him (Mohammed) to speak.
In his speech, Lai Mohammed said he might have ruffled a few feathers in the course of his duties, but it wasn’t personal. He said it’s service to be in the opposition, but a higher service to serve in Government.
At this point, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio said having known Lai Mohammed so well, it is not unusual that he might have a propaganda to drop before the Senate.
The upper chamber was thrown into another round of frenzy, as Saraki, at this point asked Lai Mohammed to speak a few more words before he bows and go.
The APC national image-maker, who is touted to become the Minister of Information, added that his mission and vision if confirmed minister is to be passionate, committed and patriotic as he was as APC National Publicity Secretary.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday unveiled the names of persons nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve as ministers under his administration.
This brings the total number of ministerial nominees to 37, as the President had on October 6 sent a 21-man list to the Senate.
The names include;
1. Khadijatu Bukar Abba Ibrahim,
2. Claudious Omoleye Daramola
3. Prof Anthony Onwuka
4. Jeffery Onyema
5. Brig. Gen M.M Dan Ali (Rtd)
6. Barr. James E. Ocholi
7. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed
8. Okechukwu Enelama
9. Muhammadu Bello
10. Mustapha Baba Shesuri
11. Miss Aisha Abubakar
12. Heineken Lokpobiri
13. Adamu Adamu
14. Prof Isaac Adewole
15. Pst Usani Usani Uguru
16. Abubakar Buhari Bawa