Skip to main content

BREAKING: JONATHAN SWEARS IN OBANIKORO SEVEN OTHERS AS MINISTERS

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has just sworn in former Junior Minister of defence, Musiliu Obanikoro along with seven others to serve as ministers in his cabinet.

The appointed minister and their portfolios are: Senator Musiliu Obanikoro to serve as Minister of State, Foreign Affairs II, Senator Patricia Akwashiki to oversee the Ministry of Information, Prof. Nicholas Ada; State, Foreign Affairs I, Col. Augustine Akobundu (retd.), State, Defence, Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo; State Health, Mrs. Hauwa Bappa; State Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Joel Ikeya; Labour and Productivity, and Mr. Kenneth Kobani; State, Industry, Trade and Investment.

The President also announced the replacement of Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu with Khaliru Alhassan as the substantive Minister of Health.Prof Chukwu resigned late last year to pursue his gubernatorial ambition.

The President Jonathan is likely to effect a minor reshuffling in his cabinet in the Next Federal Executive Council Meeting slated for Wednesday (today). This is coming on the heels of confirmation of eight ministerial nominees by the Nigerian Senate.

The Nigerian Senate last Wednesday confirmed Musiliu Obanikoro as a federal minister, appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan. The Senate approved Mr. Obanikoro’s nomination as a minister, Wednesday, after repeated deferments, despite protests from senators from Lagos State, Mr. Obanikoro’s home state, and other opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, who had vowed to stop the clearance over the Ekiti scandal.

As a former senator himself, the Senate allowed Mr. Obanikoro to “take a bow and go”, without answering questions, a privilege reserved for former federal lawmakers. APC lawmakers responded by walking out of the session in protest. Obanikoro,, a former junior minister for defence, allegedly played a key role in election fraud in Ekiti State.

Mr. Obanikoro was named recently in a leaked tape as a principal actor in the state’s governorship election rigging in 2014, sparking national outrage.

Previously, the lawmakers deferred the Ministerial screening of Obanikoro, to last week. Obanikoro's eligibility for a comeback as minister became more controversial when he got entangled in an audio leak by Capt. Sagir Koli of the Nigerian army over how he deployed military might to tilt the election in favour of PDP's candidate Governor Ayo Fayose.

Indicted in the audio leak are Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, General Momoh, and the Minister of Police affairs.

Dahiru Mohammed, Abuja, FCT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

OBOREVWORI: How Not To Glorify A 'One Chance' Governor - By Zik Gbemre

It is appalling how, in desperation to sustain its thieving hegemony over the Delta State Government since 1999, the Delta PDP had the audacity to impose the weakest, most uninformed contender, a local champion, as Governor over a state replete with accomplished men and women of immense capacity. Given this unenviable privilege, one would have expected the fortunate placeholder governor, Sheriff Oborevwori—whose only election campaign manifesto was pledging to improve on the failed leadership of Ifeanyi Okowa, his predecessor—to engage creative minds and individuals of proven integrity to assist him in making a difference. Rather than doing the needful, Oborevwori has worsened matters by electing to engage the same spent leaders, deadwood, and gluttons that have gained prominence in running the state down over successive administrations. The result has been a government of mediocre officeholders competing to run the state for their pockets at the detriment of the populace, under a gove...
Post a Comment
Read more

EDO GUBER ELECTION: Omo-Agege, Faith Majemite, Others Appointed Into APC National Campaign Council

Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) unveiled a 197-member council on Wednesday to lead its campaign. According to the list released by APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has been appointed as the chairman of the campaign council. Governor Otu will be supported by Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda as co-chairman and former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole as deputy chairman. Other members of the 197-member team include Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who will serve as Assistant Secretary; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Hon. Faith Majemite; and other governors elected on the APC platform. The recently reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, who recently defecte...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE ENDURING LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP: Chief James Ibori Celebrated for His Impact on Delta State

On Friday, May 31st, during the funeral service for the Late Asagba of Asaba, the essence of true leadership was vividly displayed. The service featured the introduction of various dignitaries, including Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation who represented President Bola Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor Godwin Obaseki, and Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. As each dignitary was introduced, the church remained silent. However, the atmosphere dramatically changed when the name of Former Governor James Ibori was announced; the congregation erupted in wide jubilation and applause. This reaction was so profound that even Senator George Akume and Governor Obaseki could not hide their astonishment. The enthusiastic reception for Chief James Ibori during this solemn occasion highlighted his enduring legacy among the people of Delta State. Despite having left office seventeen years ago, he continues to be celebrated whenever he attends public functions i...
Post a Comment
Read more