Headlines
Senate Screens 14 More Nominees, Asks 10 to ‘Take a Bow and Go’
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday screened 14 ministerial nominees.
This brings to 24 the total number of nominees screened after 10 were screened on Wednesday.
Of the 10 screened on Wednesday, six were asked to ‘take a bow’.
And of the 14 screened on Thursday, 10 were given the same special treatment of not asking them questions.
This implies the Nigerian Senate has cleared two-thirds of ministerial nominees without asking them critical questions on their competence for the job.
The reasons for asking the majority nominees to ‘take a bow’ ranged from being former lawmakers (federal or state) to being ‘loyal’.
The final ministerial nominees screened by the Senate on Thursday were given the traditional “take a bow treatment.”
A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammadu Bello, was the 12th nominee to be screened by the Senate.
After his lengthy address to the lawmakers, he prayed that they accord him the traditional “bow and go” treatment because he is a member of the National Assembly “by association.”
Kebbi State senator, Adamu Aliero, noted that Mr Adamu had been screened before. He said there was no need to delay asking him to leave.
“He has done very well. He has mentioned critical infrastructure. With your permission, let the nominee take a bow and go,” he said.
Other lawmakers including Elisha Abbo, supported the call that the nominee is given the special treatment. The lawmakers unanimously agreed to let Mr Adamu take a bow.
The 13th and 14th nominees were a Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, Sa’adiya Farouk; and a former finance minister, Zainab Ahmed.
They were asked to take a bow on grounds of gender and excellent presentations.
Speaking after Ms Farouk’s presentation, the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, stated that she has established her DNA in the National Assembly having served in the legislative complex.
“The nominee having established her DNA in the National Assembly is allowed to bow and go,” he said.
“The Senate is gender-sensitive. Give support to female senators and female stakeholders that we interact with. You have the entire Senate behind you,” was the remark of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
After reverting to plenary to report progress on the screening of 14 ministerial nominees, Mr Lawan said the screening exercise will resume on Friday and next Monday.
Nominees to be screened on Friday are Hadi Sirika, Abubakar Malami, Gbemisola Saraki and Goddy Jedy.
Others are Osagie Ehanire, Suleiman Adamu, Pauline Tallen and Muhammadu Dingyadi.
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Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
