Although he was sworn in on May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari did not present ministerial nominees to the Senate until September 30. By the end of October, the upper legislative chamber concluded work on it. Mutiu Yekeen here presents thrills and frills of the screening and confirmation.
As stipulated in the 1999 Constitution as amended, President Muhammadu Buhari finally named his ministers on the last day of September, four full months after he was sworn into office. Perhaps, one of the reasons for the delay in was the critical journey the President embarked on to select people with unquestionable characters and confirmed potentials that can once again make Nigeria great again.
The credentials of the personalities who made up the list submitted to the senate actually attested to the fact that the President took his time in assembling the team. While some dismissed the team as not being worthy of the long wait, others described the nominees as tested hands capable of helping Buhari to realize his dream of changing Nigeria for the better. The list reflects principles of the federal character and the Constitution. The screening process was not without drama. Some of the nominees had petitions written against them, which were either politically motivated or questioning their integrity.
Those opposing the nomination of Mrs. Kemi Adeosun from Ogun State and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi from Rivers State alleged that they lacked the moral integrity required in view of their past public service records. The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders in a petition signed by its Head, Debo Adeniran said Mrs. Adeosun was currently enveloped in various controversies including financial impropriety as commissioner as well as citizenship status. In the petition to President Buhari, CACOL alleged Adeosun will not add value to the administration given her antecedent that has been found to be filled with so many scandalous activities premising on financial mismanagement, questionalble and self beneficial transactions of government businesses, wastefulness, acquisition of questionable wealth, ineptness and of course graft. Report even has it that Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has been parading a dual citizenship, which constitutionally disqualifies her from holding such office. It included a press statement from Organisation of Financial Probity listing 10 Things People Need to Know About Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.
Amaechi on his part was alleged to have looted Rivers State during his tenure as governor. The petitioners against him attached copies of a judicial panel of inquiry set up by Governor Nyesom Wike.
For Adebayo Shittu from Oyo State, allegations against him bordered on religious extremism. Former deputy governor of Niger State, Musa Ibeto was withdrawn from the list for reasons rumour lill adduced to imbalance noticed in political appointments of the state. The petition against Aisha Mohammed from Sokoto State was eventually withdrawn. Her traducers alleged that she was not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and therefore, should not have been nominated a minister in the first place.
Udo Udoma
The screening started with a loud ovation in the red chamber as a two-time Senator 1999-2007, who was Chairman of committees on Appropriations, and National Planning Udoma Udo Udoma mounted the podium first. Udoma is the Akwa-Ibom State ministerial nominee. He is an accomplished lawyer and member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He had also previously served as chairman Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Union Bank of Nigeria and UAC Nigeria PLC.
After promising to contribute his quota to the growth of the country if confirmed and advising Nigeria to pay more attention to the economy, Udoma was asked to “take a bow and go” after spending about 10 minutes.
Ibe Kachikwu
Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Delta state nominee was a first class graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School with master’s and doctorate degrees in Law from the Harvard Law School. He started his career at the Nigerian/American Merchant Bank and also worked with Texaco Nigeria Limited. The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Nation Petroleum Corporation, who has served as theExecutive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon Mobil (Africa) was showered with encomium for his astral response to all questions. Kachikwu spoke for almost an hour and half with professional considerations as the basis of his standpoints. According to him, the NNPC have a plan that will kick-start in 2016 across the nation whereby free cylinders would be made available to all Nigerians followed by having gas stations built at strategic locations to curtail the use of kerosene through a long term approach and maintenance culture.
Osagie E. Ehanire
Another technocrat, politician and professional found to be new in political landscape of Nigeria among the nominees is Dr Osagie E. Ehanire. He is an accomplished surgeon who holds an MD of College of Medicine from Ludwig Maximillians University, Munich. Ehanire is the Edo State ministerial nominee. During his screening, he addressed areas ranging from medical policies, health insurance and improvement of the health sector. He said, ‘We need homegrown system backed up by necessary equipment and adequate manpower to engender confidence. The fight against corruption should be extended to the health sector’.
Rotimi Ameachi
After much controversy and politicking, the former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Ameachi was screened by the upper chamber on Thursday 22nd October and spent about 50 minutes. The screening was full of drama as the Rivers state politician was asked to bow and go by the Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume while Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio said the nominee would not be asked any questions by the PDP Senators.Senate President, Bukola Saraki ensured Amaechi was asked questions by the APC Senators. The nominee who has served in public office for most of his life expressed his disdain for corruption and even swore that he had never received bribe in his life. Brandishing what was believed to be a copy of the judicial panel that probed his time as governor, Amaechi insisted that he was not indicted in the. “There is nowhere in the report of the judicial committee, not (even) the white paper by the governor, that I am indicted for corruption”, he said. Ameachi is a graduate of English Studies and Literature at the University of Port Harcourt and worked atPamo Clinics and Hospitals Limited before veering into politics.
Heineken Lopobiri
Heineken Lopobiri, the nominee from Bayelsa State was Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly and former member of the Senate. Lopobiri who studied Law at Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt said there was a big gap in the nation’s environmental protection law. He canvassed for a law to empower individuals to seek redress where the environment is being destroyed.
Ogbonanya Onu
Ogbonanya Onu, the Ebonyi ministerial nominee is the first governor of Abia State and former national chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP). At the screening, he emphasized the need to diversify power generation to guarantee steady supply. ‘We need to pay adequate consideration to power generation”, he said.
Chris Ngige
The former governor of Anambra State and a member of the Senate until June 2015, Dr Chris Ngige spent just about seven minutes with the Senators. The flamboyant almost diminutive politician and promised to serve as link between the legislature and the presidency. After graduating from the medical school of the University of Nigeria, Nssuka (UNN), Ngige worked at the Federal Ministry of Health where he resigned in 1998 as Deputy Director of Hospital Services, Federal Medical Centres, and Teaching Hospitals.
Kayode Fayemi
Immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi was Director of Policy and Strategy, APC Campaign Organisation. He is a graduate of History, Politics and International Relations from the Universities of Lagos and Ife in Nigeria and a Doctorate degree in War Studies from the University of London, England.
A politician with intimidating credentials Fayemi took the legislators on unusual academic excursion for 54 minutes as he answered each and every question he was asked with convincing evidences.
The suave former university teacher explained that said his administration inherited the sum of N30 billion debts and managed to settle the debts. Ekiti state had N2.4 monthly billion wage bill while about N3 billion came as federal allocations every month. As for allegations that he purchased a N50 million bed for the Government House, Fayemi challenged anybody to provide any evidence of such reckless purchase. “I challenge anyone to bring an invoice of a bed in the State House that is worth N50million. I did not spend irresponsibly on it. The State House we met was probably one of the cheapest state houses in Nigeria. I used my relationship to raise a lot of funds with institutions like the World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID). There is no country that does not borrow. I did not borrow to pay salaries.”
Babatunde Raji Fashola
The former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), was a delight of the Senators as spent 70 minutes answering their questions on diverse issues. He gave his experience as the governor of Lagos which he believed could be adopted by other states of the federation. On allegations that his administration was financially reckless by designing and hoisting a website for about N70 million, Fashola carefully parried the question by saying that he never signed a single cheque as governor.
Kemi Adeosun
Mrs. Kemi Adeosun is the former Ogun State commissioner for finance, who has over 24 years’ experience in private and public financial sectors both in Nigeria and United Kingdom. She said unemployment could be reduced by creating jobs and entrepreneurship training. She hailed zero based budgeting and called for a review of the waivers and concession policy. She insisted that the nation need to invest heavily on infrastructure most especially in the private sector and diversify our economy for better result. She spent close to 40 minutes on the podium before she was asked to bow and go.
Abdulraheem Adebayo Shitu
Former legislator, commissioner, Obafemi Awolowo, Ile Ife Law graduate Barrister Abdulraheem Adebayo Shitu, the ministerial nominee from Oyo State answered questions ranging from religion to activism and governance at the chamber. He emphasized the need for freedom of religion and association, claiming that he was not a religious extremist. Shitu stated that he had been in the legal profession for long and had 36 years’ experience as a politician having worked in many areas of Nigerian governance. After 70 minutes of drilling, Shitu was asked to take a bow.
Claudius Omoleye Daramola
Prof. Claudius Omoleye Daramola, Ondo state ministerial nominee said monies released for university administration should be appropriately tracked to avoid incessant strikes common to our tertiary institutions. The former Head of the Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, University of Ilorin is a graduate of Sociology from Usmanu Dan Fodiyo Univerty, Sokoto. He also attended University of Jos and University of Ilorin for his Masters and Ph. D. Degrees.
Audu Innocent Ogbe
Chief Audu Innocent Ogbe, the Benue State nominee attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Toulouse, France. Ogbe spent close to 20 minutes with the senators while answering question on his personality and national matters. The former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) tried to clear the air on his defection, saying it happens everywhere, especially in emerging democracies. The Benue born agriculturalist emphasized the need for political parties in the country to take internal democracy serious.
Lai Mohammed
The clownish and most dramatic segment of the screening surfaced at the Chamber when Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Kwara State nominee and the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) was repeatedly cheered on by APC senators. The businessman turned politician is a graduate of French Language from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Law from the University of Lagos and the Nigerian Law School.
Instead of just bowing once and taking his leave, Mohammed bowed six times before Dr. Saraki amid thunderous applause from the Senators. “I desire higher service to be in government”, he told the screening committee.
Solomon Dalong
Barrister Solomon Dalong, the Plateau State nominee is a legal practitioner claiming astute knowledge and experience of the Nigerian Prison Service condemned endemic corruption both in the public and private sectors of the economy, emphasized the need to enact laws guiding the social media and the need to build a nation that will be united in diversity.
Ibrahim Jibril
Ibrahim Jibril from Nasarawa State said the issue of haphazard development of the nation’s capital needs to be addressed with proper use of resettlement plan, urging residents to take the advantage of Abuja Geographic Information System as a guide in lands transactions. He advocated a review of Abuja master plan every five years.
Ocholi Onojo James
Kogi State born Ocholi Onojo James SAN spent more than an hour fielding questions from the Senators on the state of judiciary, prison services and his personal experiences as a lawyer. He emphasized that the long detention of suspects awaiting trial deprives them of their productive years. “Keeping young children in prison, in itself, creates a lot of problems and lot of overhead cost; they are kept there; they are not educated; they don’t have the time to go school.”
Abubakar Malami
Abubakar Malami, the youngest among the nominees is from Kebbi State and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) gave his view of the administration of Justice in the country as he decried the delays in administration of Justice. Justice he said should be administered within 180 days. He responded to questions with brave determination devoid of intimidation.
Abdulrahman Bello Dambazzau
Lt Gen (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazzau, the Kano State ministerial nominee and a former Chief of Army Staff emphasized the need for frequent review of Nigerian defense and procurement policy to guide defence issues and formation of battle guidelines. He further addressed issues raised by the legislators on defence practices and budgetary allocation with his military understanding. Dambazau holds a BSc Criminal Justice, MA International Relations, M. Ed Higher Educational Administration and PhD Criminology.
Hadi Sirika
Katsina State ministerial nominee, Sen. Hadi Sirika a former Senator explained that the country’s aviation sector require overhauling from the point of view of piloting and aircraft ownership. Sirika is a former pilot and member of the Senate Committee on Aviation. He described acquisition of private aircraft by public officers and politician through corrupt means as unfair. Nigeria he said should have a national career.
Suleiman Adamu
Engr Suleiman Adamu (Hussein), from Jigawa State graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria while also holding Master’s degree in Project Management from the University of Reading, United Kingdom. He worked as a Principal Consultant with Afri- Projects Consortium, Management Consultants to the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund and belongs to various professional bodies home and abroad. It was a surprise that no Senator asked questions concerning the role Afri-Projects Consortium played at the PTF.
Amina Mohammed
The Gombe State nominee, Ms Amina Mohammed, is the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning and former Senior Special Assistant to President on the Millennium Development Goals who served under President Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan. The outstanding woman dealt a blow with questions asked on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and what can be done to improve the well-being of Nigerians particularly on gender and education. She also stressed the need for the upgrade of Vision 20; 2020 and that the MDAs should key into the new strategy and review in line with current realities. However, she failed to answer some of the questions asked by the senators, she was asked to bow and go.
Khadijah Aba Ibrahim
A very interesting aspect of the ministerial screening surfaced when a former commissioner for transport in Yobe State, three-time House of Representative member and wife of former Yobe State Governor and current Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim took her turn. Educated at Headington School, Oxford, Padworth College, and the University of Surrey where she graduated in Business Studies and Sociology, the only question for Ibrahim was from her husband who asked “what would you say if you were asked to bow and go?”.
Aisha Jummai Alhassan
Former Senator and APC governorship candidate for 2015 governorship election in Taraba State, Mrs. Aisha Jummai Alhassan was Taraba State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. At the screening, Aisha said she was ready to serve the nation while correcting the impression that the ministerial position is a compensation for her loss at the Taraba governorship elections. After nine minutes of introductory speech, she was asked to bow and go.
Baba Shehuri Mustapha
Baba Shehuri Mustapha, Borno State nominee and a former member, House of Representatives described himself as a grassroots politician. He noted that he does not represent any particular political interest rather, remains the voice of the common man. The nominee advocated the abolition of Joint State/Local Government Account to ensure grassroots development.
