The ministerial appointment of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has just been confirmed by the Senate. He was confirmed alongside others whose names were sent in by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Senator Obanikoro was not grilled but was asked to take a bow and leave in adherence of the tradition of the Senate, where a former Senator is not asked questions but is simply asked to take a bow and leave.
The APC Senators had protested the inclusion of Obanikoro following his alleged role in the Ekiti election and had even insinuated that in some other climes, President Jonathan should have resigned.
But today while the opposition staged a walkout, the Senators followed the tradition of the Senate where a former Senator would be asked to take a bow and leave without being asked questions.
Opposition lawmakers also reminded the Senate that a precedent has been set in the Senate in the case of Taraba State where the Senate refused to confirm a Ministerial nominee because Lawmakers in the state were opposed to the appointment.
The Senate President, David Mark argued that he has not been served a court order and so the screening would hold.
The Senate consequently confirmed Senator Obanikoro as Minister prompting APC Lawmakers to stage a walk out and addressed the media denouncing Mr. Obanikoro’s confirmation. They wanted it on record that they objected to Obanikoro’s confirmation because he is a known election-rigger in view of his role in the unfolding Ekiti State governorship story.
“The hilarious thing is that these most of these Senators appear to have the same shelf life as the man they just fraudulently confirmed for a filthy Ministerial chair,” a political analyst said in response. “None of them may have a job after May 29, but from now on, the Senators carry on their heads the guilt and stench of Obanikoro.”
Asked what he meant, he said, “Can’t you see? Some people will now be known as ‘Obanikoro Senator.’”
Also confirmed were Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa); Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue); Augustine Akobundu (Abia) and Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi).
Others include Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa), Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) and Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba).
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