Drama in Senate over ministerial list

A mild drama played out yesterday on the floor of the Senate over the much-awaited ministerial nominees’ list.

The Senate gallery was unusually crowded by people who thought the ministerial list would be read by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

The drama was sparked by the outburst of the Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio.

The Senate President had hardly concluded reading a letter from the South West Senate caucus which nominated and endorsed Senator Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central) as Senate Chief Whip when Akpabio was give the floor.

Akpabio started by thanking President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo for calling to sympathise with him over the auto crash he was involved in last month in Abuja.

He said the newspapers, television stations and other media outlets were awash with the news that the ministerial list had been sent to the Senate.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari promised that the ministerial list would be submitted to the Senate in September.

He noted that most Nigerians were also concerned that the submission of the list had been unduly delayed.

He said: “Mr. President, today is September 30. Where is the ministerial list? I am surprised that the list is not part of what was read by Mr. Senate President.”

Before Saraki could respond, Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC Kebbi South) stood in for Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume who was not in the chamber.

He noted that since the question Akpabio raised had to do with the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, it was his duty to respond.

Na’Allah said that it was still too early for anybody to conclude that the ministerial list would not be submitted yesterday.

The Deputy Senate Leader said that he was aware that the office of the Senate President remains open till midnight every day.”So, there is no cause for alarm.”

Na’Allah’s response drew wild laughter from senators

Saraki said based on Na’Allah’s explanation, he ruled Akpabio out of order.

There was further laughter in the chamber.

Senator Shehu Sani, (Kaduna Central) said he went to Akwa Ibom State after hearing of Akpabio’s auto crash to sympathise with him only to be told that Akpabio had travelled to London.

Sani noted that it seemed Akpabio abandoned his First Class Hospital in Akwa Ibom to seek treatment in a London hospital.

But Senate Minority Whip Philip Aduda (FCT) promptly rose to Akpabio’s defence.

Aduda said Akpabio was on his way to London when the accident happened.

He said the impression should not be created that Akpabio abandoned hospitals in the country to go to London. There was further laughter in the chamber.

The Senate rose around 1.12 pm without the list being read to the consternation of those in the Senate gallery.

Speaking on the ministerial list at a briefing, Chairman, Senate ad-hoc committee on Media and publicity, Dino Melaye, said that the Senate was still waiting for the ministerial list.

The Senate, he said, will treat the ministerial list “diligently in conformity with the dictates of the constitution.”

He said, “When it comes, the Senate will treat the ministerial list diligently and in conformity with the dictates of the constitution. We will approve and clear only those nominees who met constitutional and moral requirements. The doors and office of the Senate President is wide open 24 hours.