Headline
Senators Disagree On Screening Process Of Tinubu’s Ministerial Nominees
Published
10 months agoon
By
EditorAhead of Monday’s commencement of the screening of the 28 ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu, senators have disagreed sharply on the screening processes.
The Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) and Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) are saying that the screening of the ministerial nominees would be thorough and not take-a-bow-and-go as in the past.
However, the former Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South) sharply disagreed with them, saying that nothing new will happen.
Another Senator who spoke with Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, agreed with Senator Abaribe.
The senator said with the list compromising former governors, Senators and members, House of Representatives, it would be more a “take a bow and go” show.
Speaking with Vanguard, Senator Abaribe said: “The screening of the ministerial list will not be different. Nothing has changed to give any signal of a change in methodology.”
Recall that the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio had on Thursday read out the 28 ministerial nominees sent in by President Bola Tinubu for screening at the National Assembly scheduled to commence on Monday.
Also, Senator Adaramodu, while addressing journalists on Thursday, had boasted that the Senators would be thorough during the screening as they would dwell on experience, character, personality, background, among others, just as there will be no take a bow and go except when there are no questions.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu had said, “This time, screening will be very thorough. It is not going to be a situation where the screening will be anyhow.
“We are going to know the background of the nominees and we are not going to disappoint Nigerians.
“We are very much aware of the high expectations of those who will assist the President in fulfillment of his mandate and the constitution.
READ ALSO: Ministerial List: El-Rufai, Wike, Alake, Others To Appear For Senate Screening Monday
“To satisfy the expectations of Nigerians for high-velocity performance, we will “eyemark” not “earmark”, the performances. The screening will be very thorough, but there will still be the take-a-bow-and-go.
“The Senate will scrutinise the character, the ability of every nominee. Thorough screening for anybody who will be minister entails he/she must have ideas about everything, but in core specialities like health, yes the minister must be a professional.
“The 10th Senate will not disappoint Nigerians. The team will bring oxygen, the chain to the economy, character of the nominees must be carried in the resume, but we will not manufacture questions and allegations against anyone.”
He advised that as the list has been read out anyone who has anything against them can channel such to the right quarters.
“Although the Senate is not supposed to sit on Mondays, but because of the importance attached to this national assignment, we have suspended all our rules.
“On Monday, we are not supposed to have plenary which you know, but we have suspended all rules.
“In fact, we are supposed to go on our annual vacation; we have suspended it for the benefit of this assignment.
“This is a national assignment, very crucial and very pertinent. It is necessary and compulsory for us to be at the chamber on Monday at 11a.m., all other days 10a.m.”
Senator Adaramodu who disclosed that there will be no allocation of time for any nominee, said: “If a single nominee takes up to three hours or a whole day, so be it.
“A nominee who has been brought forward must explain himself. If after explaining nobody is asking question that you are this or that, we will not manufacture it.”
On the usual take a bow, which has become a norm for former senators, he said it is a norm and not an anathema.
The Senate spokesman had said, “Even if you came to National Assembly to submit a paper you must take a bow, so the issue of taking bow is not an anathema, it is a tradition, it is not a slang for complacency.
“It does not mean you cannot be held accountable. It is just a norm.”
On allegation of graft against someone the nominees, Adaramodu said that all had gone through security checks from the executive, adding, “if there is any red flag raise we will look into it.”
Corroborating the spokesperson, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele reiterated that the Senate would be thorough with the screening of the ministerial nominees.
He spoke on Friday at a programme tagged ’24 Hours Marathon Praise and Worship Service’, organised by his admirers to mark his 60th birthday celebration held at the palatial Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre in Ado Ekiti.
He said the Senate will scrutinise the ministers thoroughly to ascertain their competences and capabilities to serve Nigeria diligently and in such a way that will bring dividends of democracy to the populace.
He said: “Let me assure Nigerians that the screening won’t be only bow and go, except for those who had been members of the National Assembly before and whom we knew and appreciated that they have the wherewithal to give Nigerians qualitative leadership.
“Nigerians expected us to be thorough. They are expecting us to do a thorough screening. But take a bow and go is not an unparliamentary convention, it has become a practice all over the world and that person must be a former member of the parliament who is well known to us.
“Somebody we have confidence in his ability.
“We are going to follow the constitution to ensure that we deliver our mandate to make those who voted for us happy.
“This will occur at the level of parliament, oversight functions and at the committee level.”
READ ALSO: Ministerial List: Tinubu Rewarding Vultures, Appeasing Snakes – Shehu Sani
Tinubu’s ministerial list is made up of former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; his counterpart from Rivers, Nyesom Wike, a card-carrying member of main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; the immediate past Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, who is currently the Deputy Majority Leader in the Senate; and the current acting National Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who represented Borno North in the 8th and 9th Senate.
Also on the list is Senator John Enoh, who represented Cross River Central in the 8th Senate; Senator Abubakar Sani Danladi, former Acting Governor and Deputy Governor Taraba State; former Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Nkiru Onyejiocha, who represented Isuikwuato/ Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State; Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, represents Akoko North East/ North West Federal Constituency, Ondo State, and was Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Others are Abubakar Momoh, a two- time member of House of Representatives, who represented Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State, and Ekperikpe Ekpo, represented Abak Federal Constituency from 2007 and 2011 from Akwa Ibom State.
A former All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant, Uju Ohaneye, made the list as well as former Executive Director, NEXIM Bank, Stella Okotete from Delta State, and the Special Adviser to the President on Communication, Strategy and Special Duties, Dele Alake from Ekiti State, among others.
VANGUARD
You may like
Senate Approves Death Penalty For Drug Offenders
Bill On Unemployment Benefit Scales Second Reading
Knocks, Kudos As Senator Donates Clay Pots, Burial Materials To Constituents
Budget Padding Controversy: Akpabio Knocked, Asked To Immediately Step Aside
[JUST IN] Budget Padding: Rowdy Session As Senators Confront Ningi Over Allegation
US Citizen, Akpabio’s Aide Disagree Over Letter Seeking USAID Funds
Headline
Five-year-old Boy Shot Dead By Hijackers In South Africa
Published
4 hours agoon
May 13, 2024By
EditorA 5-year-old boy, Ditebogo Junior, was shot dead after his father’s Toyota Hilux was hijacked outside their home in Soshanguve, in the north of Gauteng, South Africa.
Police spokesperson, Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said that the child had gone out to welcome his father, Ditebogo Phalane, when he arrived home around 10:30pm on Friday, May 10, 2024.
“An unconfirmed number of armed suspects allegedly hijacked the father’s White Toyota bakkie and shot the five-year-old boy who later died in hospital,” Masondo said.
READ ALSO: Why Tinubu Didn’t Intervene In Ganduje’s Troubles – APC Leaders
Phalane’s cousin, Gift Makoti took to X to share the heartbreaking news about the boy’s passing.
“My cousin was Hijacked hours ago in Soshanguve block Uu, they took his Bakkie. He was with his son, they shot the 5yr old boy!! He didn’t make it!! What has this country come to now!!!!!???! That’s a CHILD man!!!!!!” he wrote
He posted photos of the young boy, Ditebogo Phalane Jnr, with his father smiling and looking happy. He said that the boy’s father was inconsolable.
READ ALSO: Customs Intercepts N10m Worth Petrol En Route Cameroon Illegally
“He and his son had a strong bond. His son was always out and about with him, keeping him company. I don’t know how he is going to live without his son,” he said
The tragic incident has left social media users shocked and angry.
Many have made contributions to help erect a tombstone for the boy.
American comedian, James Gregory, known for calling himself “The Funniest Man in America” has passed on at the age of 78.
Gregory’s family said he died on Thursday, May 9, from cardiac complications.
James took up comedy in the early ’80s when he was 36 after years of working as a salesman, and, he became the first comedian to take the stage at the legendary Punchline club in Atlanta.
READ ALSO: Obasanjo To Adeleke: Keep The Dancing Spirit, Deliver On Infrastructure
While he was known as a Southern comedian, he traveled all across the country performing shows for the next four decades.
His biggest claim to fame came when he dubbed himself “The Funniest Man in America” in the ’80s, and, later he took the URL domain “funniestman.com”, cementing himself in his fans’ minds as the funniest man.
He is survived by his three nieces and other extended family.
Headline
JUST-IN: 34 Dead, 16 Missing In Indonesia Floods
Published
15 hours agoon
May 12, 2024By
EditorAt least 34 people have died and 16 more were missing after floods on Sumatra island in western Indonesia, the spokesperson for the West Sumatra disaster mitigation agency said Sunday.
READ ALSO: Hundreds Rescued After Flooding In Australia
“Until now our data shows that 34 people died: 16 in Agam and 18 in Tanah Datar. At least 18 others are injured. We are also still searching for 16 other people,” Ilham Wahab told AFP, referring to two districts in West Sumatra province.
Details later…
AFP
Man Kidnaps 6-year-old Cousin, Kills Victim For Recognising Him
Five-year-old Boy Shot Dead By Hijackers In South Africa
American Comedian, James Gregory Is Dead
Trending
- News5 days ago
The New Masquerade’ Actress, Ovularia Is Dead
- News4 days ago
BREAKING: Rivers State House Of Assembly Gets New Speaker
- Business5 days ago
FULL LIST: CBN Publishes List Of Licensed Deposit Money Banks
- Metro4 days ago
Edo: Police Patrol Van Pursuing ‘Yahoo Boys’ Rams Into Motorcycle Convening Passenger
- News5 days ago
Father Of 12 Found Dead Inside Brothel In Bayelsa
- Politics1 day ago
Rivers Crisis: Why Gov Fubura Got Into ‘Trouble’ – Secondus
- News4 days ago
VIDEO: Nigerian Man Exhumed After Completing 24-hour Buried Alive Challenge
- Metro2 days ago
Kogi University Lecturer Stripped Over Alleged Sexual Harassment
- News4 days ago
Nigerian Emerges First Black Woman To Bag PhD In Robotics At Michigan Varsity
- News4 days ago
Nigerian’s Request To Be Buried Alive For 24 Hours Causes Stir Online [VIDEO]