Politics

Senate Begins Screening Of Ministerial Nominees, Today

Published

16 years ago

March 29, 2010

The Upper Chambers of the National Assembly will today commence the screening of 31 ministerial nominees submitted to it by the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Last Tuesday, the Acting President sent to the Senate list of nominees that will form the crop of the new cabinet. This development came about a week after he announced the dissolution of the Federal Executive Council constituted by the ailing president Musa Yar;Adua.

Out of the 31 ministerial nominees, eight of the dissolved cabinet made the new list while 23 are fresh hands. The eight returning ministerial nominees include Odein Ajumogobia, Adetokunbo Kayode, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke, Nuhu Sumo Wya, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Godsday Orubebe, Prof. Dora Akunyili, and Fidelia Njeze.

The 23 others that made the ministerial list are Mrs Josephine Anenih, Prof. M.K. Abubakar, Navy Captain N.S. Olubolade (rtd), Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Ndanusa Alao, Umaru Aliyu and Murtala Yar’Adua. The remaining lucky ones are Nduese Essien, Abubakar Mohammed, Olusegun Aganga, Labaran Maku, Sanusi Daggash, Emeke Nwogu, Bello Adokiye, Josephine Tapgun, Adamu Maina Waziri, Ernest Odebola and Suleiman Bello.

The ministerial nominees list which attracted mixed reactions soon after it was made public in the Senate, however laid to rest days of lobbying by interest groups and political heavy weights to have their candidates included in the list.

Even when critics accused Jonathan of assembling what they called “greenhorns and lacking political experiences “sources from his office disagreed, saying that the crop of the new ministerial nominees are experienced technocrats and professionals that are assembled to give a fresh breath to good governance towards a better Nigerian society.

Thought the Senate has promised a fair screening exercise for all the nominees, it may not be out of place to see anti-Jonathan senators being difficult during the screening in order to frustrate the nominees efforts to scale though.

Meanwhile, the Senate President, David Mark, is skipping this year’s International Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference in Bangkok, Thailand to enable him to preside over the screening of the ministerial nominees.

Mr. Paul Mumeh, the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate president, made the announcement in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

The world parliamentarians are expected to discuss issues on threat to security and peace, democracy and human rights, sustainable development as well as finance and trade across the globe.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

4 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

News

Oji Clears Air On Appointment Of 15 Special Advisers By Fubara

Published

1 week ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

The Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Darlington Oji, has disclosed that about 15 Special Advisers to the governor were duly approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly before the current political crisis in the State.

Oji made the disclosure in a Television programme in Port Harcourt, recently, while reacting to issues surrounding appointments, the impeachment moves against the governor and his deputy, and allegations of financial mismanagement.

He clarified that the appointment of Special Advisers was carried out in strict compliance with constitutional provisions, and received the approval of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, before the crisis began.

According to the Special Adviser, the appointments did not require any further screening, countering claims that the governor violated due process in constituting his advisory team.

On the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, Oji described the process as unfounded and lacking constitutional backing.

He said that several lawmakers who initially supported the impeachment move were now reconsidering their stance after discovering that the process had no legal basis.

Oji also attributed the impeachment plot to personal and political ambitions, saying it is not motivated by the interest or welfare of the people of Rivers State.

Speaking on the financial position of the State after the Emergency Rule, the Special Adviser disclosed that the governor met about ?600 billion in the state’s coffers upon assumption of office.

He explained that the availability of funds enabled the administration to continue governance smoothly without the need for a supplementary budget.

The governor’s aide also refuted allegations of financial mismanagement against the governor, and stressed that all allocations to lawmakers and constituency projects were transparently handled.

He maintained that the Fubara administration remained focused on development, stability, and good governance despite the political distractions in the State.

Oji expressed confidence that the impeachment moves would eventually be abandoned as legislators and the public become more informed, adding that the governor’s leadership has continued to reassure citizens and sustain political stability in the State.

King Onunwor

Politics

Rivers Political Crisis: PANDEF Urges Restraint, Mutual Forbearance

Published

3 weeks ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called for restraint and mutual forbearance over the recent political development in Rivers State.

The Forum has also set up a high level Reconciliation Committee chaired by a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).

This is contained in a press statement released in Abuja on Saturday.

The statement was jointly signed by PANDEF’s Board of Trustees Co-Chairmen, Chief Alfred Diete-Spiff, and Obong Victor Attah (a former governor of Akwa Ibom State), as well as PANDEF’s National Chairman, Chief Godknows Igali.

Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.

“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.

“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.

“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.

The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.

“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.

“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.

“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.

PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.