Ex govs Umahi, Wike, Badaru, Elrufai, 24 others make Tinubu’s Ministerial list

•As screening begins Monday

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Baba Adamu

The Senate yesterday received a list of twenty eight ministerial nominees sent by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for screening and confirmation.
This is even as the Senate Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), told journàlists after the unveiling of the ministerial list by Senate President Godswill Akpabío that the screening will commence Monday, assuring Nigerians that the process will be thorough to ensure that Nigerians get the best.
Nonetheless, the list was brought to the Senate chamber by the immediate past Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamia, who is now the Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Tínubu.
The constitution of Nigeria provides that each of the thirty six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is entitled to a minister.
The president also has the discretion to appoint six more ministers in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
As the President presented only 28 names, it means that more states have not been captured in the present list.
The list includes: Abubakar Momoh, Ambassador Yusuf Miatama Tukur, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa, Barr. Hannatu Musawa, Chief Uche Nnaji, Dr. Berta Edu, Dr. Dorris Aniche Uzoka, H.E. David Umahi, H.E. Nyesom Wike.
Others are: H.E. Badaru Abubakar, H.E. Nasiru Ahmed Elrufai, Rt. Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo, Hon. Nkiru Onyeojiocha, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Hon. Stella Okotette, Hon. Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, Bello Muhammad.
The list also included: Dele Alake, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Muhammad Idris, Olawale Edun, Waheed Adebayo Adelabu, Iman Suleiman Ibrahim, Professor Ali Pate, Professor Joseph Utsev, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Senator John Eno and Senator Sani Abubakar Danladi.
While journalists were waiting for Senate President Godswill Akpabio to announce the communication between the executive and the legislative branch, Senate Leader, Bamidele Opeyemi, rose through order 1a and 1b and order 12:1i, which specify that former Speakers will be admitted into the chamber.
Immediately the lawmakers accepted the relevance of the order, former Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who is the Chief of Staff to the President, was ushered into the Chamber.
Gbajabiamila, who brought the communication instead of the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, handed the list over to the Senate President.
Reading the list, Akpabio said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is requesting for the confirmation of the 28 ministerial nominees.
The Senate President said Tinubu disclosed that additional names are still coming to the red chamber, adding that the Senate should screen and confirm the twenty eight nominees.
Akpabio said since the Senate does not have all the committees in place, the minister nominees would be subjected to the committee of the whole, which implies that the minister nominees will be screened in the chamber.
The Senate will begin screening and confirmation process for the nominees on Monday as the lawmakers may adjourn plenary in two weeks time for a two months long break.
Speaking to journàlists, the Senate Spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu said Nigerians expect nothing less than double deck and high velocity performance from the Ministers, adding that with the unveiling of the ministerial list, the Tínubu’s Government is set to fly and recover Nigeria from both economic and social doldrum it has been.