How nominees became ministers

THE ongoing screening of ministerial nominees by the Senate, has thrown up surprises and excitement.The first batch of nominees screened included Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chief Audu Ogbeh; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Lt.Gen. Abduulrahman Dambazau; Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Amina Ibrahim Mohammed; Engr. Suleiman Hussaini Adamu and Ibrahim Usman Jibril.

Interestingly, the screening session, which commenced at 11am, saw the Senate gallery filled to the brim. To prevent overcrowding in the Senate chambers, many people, who wanted to have a glimpse of the screening procedure, were locked out.

Days before the exercise, the senators had said that it would not be business as usual.

In that light, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, said: “It is not going to be business as usual. What I can assure you is that we will go with the constitution, the rules, we will put Nigeria first.” He added that the screening will be done with a “high level of seriousness.’’

Before the commencement, the Senate went into a closed-door session during which it considered the reports of its Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee on petitions against Rotimi Amaechi and Amina Mohammed.

I pledge to serve—Udoma

The first nominee to be grilled was a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Udo Udoma.

Udoma assured Nigerians that he would perform the onerous task ahead of him, if confirmed by the Senate. He was asked to take a bow and go.

Borrowing is critical to governance—Fayemi

Next to be screened was former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who dazzled the lawmakers with his mastery of public policy issues. He, however, set the records straight on his stewardship in Ekiti State, especially the allegation of leaving behind a debt burden.

Fayemi cleared the allegation that he spent  an “untoward amount” on the renovation of the Government House at the expense of public welfare.

He said, “I borrowed but not in rank of the figure being bandied around. No country exists without borrowing,” he said.

He said his most profound legacy was the social security safety programme, which gave N5,000 to indigent people, monthly.

Justifying the renovation of the Government House, he said for 19 years, Ekiti State did not have a befitting Government House. Having satisfied the legislators, Fayemi was asked to bow and go.

I believe in my competence—Ogbeh: The next nominee, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh introduced himself as “a farmer who has interacted with some of you in the past”.

Though criticisms had trailed his nomination, Ogbeh said he was before the Senate not because he wanted anything new, but because President Buhari asked him to serve in his cabinet. “I wouldn’t be here if I don’t believe I can do it.”

To provide a soft landing for Ogbeh, Senator Godswill Akpabio moved a motion that Ogbeh should be allowed to take a bow and go. Perhaps this will be the first time that a non lawmaker would be given such privilege.

Ogbonnaya Onu: In an attempt to clear the landmines before former Abia Governor, Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Gaya, who was Onu’s counterpart as governor in 1992,urged the lawmakers to allow the nominee to bow and go.

Rahaman Dabazzau

But Senator Danjuma Goje countered the motion, wanting Onu to comment on the widespread unemployment in the country. After the remarks, Onu was made to take a bow, having excelled in his education from the basic level to the advanced level.

We must come up with a healthcare model—Ehanire

Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who hails from Edo State, stated that he shared a common vision with President Buhari.

Asked how he intends to fix the nation’s ailing healthcare sector, if appointed as minister of health, especially in the areas of poor diagnosis, inefficient service delivery and training, Ehanire proposed training and retraining of all actors in the  sector and a review of curriculum of health-related schools.

The doctor stressed the need for Nigeria to design its own health models rather than copying models that had worked elsewhere.

Grazing sites should be created—Dambazzau

A former Chief of Army Staff, Abdurahman Dambazau reeled out his resume detailing his career history and accomplishments. Debunking the claim by a lawmaker that Nigeria has no defence policy, Dambazau said he was indeed contacted some months ago to be part of a committee to review the document.

Proffering solutions to recurring herdsmen/farmers clashes, he  said it was imperative for Nigeria to provide grazing lands for cattle rearers.

Aside this, Dambazau said public private partnership should be considered for the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). “I was passionate about the welfare of the military, a reason I came up with the idea of establishing new barracks like the Abacha Barracks,” he said.

APC will not be harsh to the opposition—Lai Mohammed

A nominee whose screening was also brief, is the Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lai Mohammed.

Opposition trenches

The senators interrupted his speech intermittently to laugh or object to his remarks. He said he would be more comfortable to serve in government having been in opposition trenches for long. “I stand before you to seek your support to be confirmed as minister,” he said.

Audu Ogbeh

Senator Akpabio said, “If I know the nominee very well, I know he will like to drop some propaganda before he leaves.”

In his brief remarks, the APC spokesman said, “four years is a short time to learn the rope in opposition. You may have to stay there a little longer. In government, we (APC) will not be as harsh as you (PDP) were to us while we were in opposition.”

Amina Mohammed: With stiff opposition trailing her nomination, Amina Mohammed was unruffled as she spoke about her career history and accomplishments. Responding to questions, Mohammed   said that the conditional grant scheme was a good initiative, if it would be applied towards improving healthcare, education and water supply among others.

Water supply

According to her, the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, are a set of 17 goals comprising 169 targets and indicators for reducing poverty and improving environmental sustainability.

She spoke at length on development issues, with some interruptions from the senators obviously complaining about the length and intellectual depth of the speech. She was then asked to take a bow and go.

Suleiman Adamu: The nominee from Jigawa State, Mr Suleiman Adamu, recounted his long-standing relationship with President Buhari.

Adamu emphasised the need for the Federal Capital Development Authority to commit resources to the development of Abuja satellite towns.

Impressed with their conduct and knowledge, the Senate yesterday approved and confirmed 18 of the 36 nominees  for appointment. the screening continues today.