Senate defers Obanikoro’s ministerial screening

The senate on Wednesday deferred the
screening of Musiliu Obanikoro, former
minister of state for defence, to next week.
However, four ministerial nominees were
screened. They are Patricia Akwashiki
(Nasarawa state), Nicholas Akise Ada ( Benue
state), Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (Abia
state) and Fidelis Nwankwo( Ebonyi state).
Obanikoro had resigned his post as minister of
state for defence to contest the Lagos
governorship primary of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
But after losing the ticket to Jimi Agbaje, who
would now confront Akinwumi Ambode of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) next month,
President Goodluck Jonathan re-nominated
Obanikoro for a return to the federal executive
council.
The senate had slated Wednesday for the
screening of Obanikoro and seven others as
ministers, but midway into the screening
session, David Mark, senate president, deferred
the process to next week.
It is not clear why the senate took the decision,
but sources say it was to douse the tension
that had been brewing in the senate over the
likely confirmation of Obanikoro as minister.
Some All Progressives Congress (APC)
senators had left the upper chamber when it
became clear to them that Obanikoro would not
come before senate.
The senators had vowed to resist the
confirmation of Obanikoro as minister.
As a senator from 2003 to 2007, Obanikoro, in
the tradition of the senate, is expected to take a
bow and leave when he appears before the
upper chamber, but that may not happen as the
APC senators are set against him.
Nevertheless, the Peoples Democratic Party
has the majority in the senate; hence
Obanikoro’s confirmation is expected to sail
through, perhaps with a fight.
Akwashiki, the first to appears before the
senate, was not grilled. Owing to her status as
a former senator, she took a bow and left.
However, the three other ministerial nominees
were questioned by senators.
Responding to a question from Abdul Ningi,
senate deputy minority leader, on the best
curriculum for education in Nigeria, Akise, a
professor of education who may likely emerge
minister of state for education, stated that the
Nigerian education curriculum would be
developed to meet the developmental needs of
the country. He suggested that the curriculum
should be reviewed based on the needs of the
country.
Afterwards, Akobundu, a retired colonel, took
some time to greet members of the senate, a
move that made some senators to call for his
quick dispatch.
He, however, answered a few questions and
exited the chamber.