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Tinubu In Seclusion Over Ministerial Nominees -Senate Leader
The Senate has declared that President Bola Tinubu will make available the much-expected list of ministerial nominees within the next 48 hours, adding that the President had gone into hiding to avoid undue influence.
The Senate also urged Nigerians to pray for Tinubu to be able to make the right decision within the next 24 hours so that Nigerians will be happy with the list of his Ministers at the end of the day.
According to the Senate, the list will be received in the next 24 hours, and that the President decided to go into hiding for the next 48 hours to enable him come up with a list of nominees that would be acceptable to all Nigerians.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) at his 60th birthday anniversary lecture and presentation of two books on Leadership, Communication at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Bamidele said: “Let me tell you, and you must encourage me; I need to make myself unavailable for the next 48 hours because a correspondence must come to the Senate, a very crucial correspondence.
“So Mr President prayed for me. We should tell the rest of Nigerians to pray for me to be able to make the right decision within the next 24 hours so that when Nigerians hear the list of his ministers, they will say ‘yes…this is uncommon’, and join us to pray for Mr President.
“He needed to be away from any kind of influence.”
Recall that President Tinubu, who was inaugurated 29th May, 2023, has up till July 28 to send his ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening and subsequent confirmation in line with the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Following the amendment by the last parliament, the constitution stipulates that the President and governors have, from the date they are sworn in, a 60-day window within which to appoint ministers and commissioners.
Section 42 of the constitution states that “(a) the nomination of any person to the office of a Minister for confirmation by the Senate shall be done within sixty days after the date the President has taken the oath of office; (b) not less than ten per cent of persons appointed as Ministers shall be women: Provided that the President may appoint a Minister at any other time during his tenure and such appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”
According to the Constitution, the President shall also appoint at least a .inister from each of the 36 states of the Federation.
Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has lamented that governors in Nigeria always fight their successors immediately they resumed office.
Akpabio who spoke at the 60th birthday anniversary lecture and book presentation of Senate leader, Senator Bamidele, applauded the celebrant for his loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for over 30 years, when he served as aide to him in National Assembly in 1992.
Akpabio who expressed displeasure with the attitude of governors to their successors said there is no former governor that has not had issue with his governor citing issue of Senator Adams Oshiomole , Senator Adamu Aliero apart from that of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebamiji.
The President of the Senate said: “The Governor of Ekiti state is great example of what leadership should be. He has remained steadfast.
“As a governor, the moment you handover power to your successor, he will turn on you. Either his taste will change or attitude; there is no governor in Nigeria that has no problem with their successor apart from Ekiti governor.
“That is why we have to celebrate Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele for the kind of his person.”
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene