APC Senators Deterred Obanikoro Ministerial Screening, Insist He Must Be Dropped

Senators of the main opposition party, APC and few members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday stalled screening of the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, for ministerial appointment.

The Senate, however, screened four of the eight nominees forwarded by President Goodluck Jonathan to fill the vacant positions created as a result of the resignation of former ministers who contested party primaries in their states.

As a result of the controversy the nomination of Senator Obanikoro has generated, Senate President David Mark embarked on a closed-door session where he tried to persuade Senators to follow the tradition of the Senate where a former Senator would be asked to take a bow and leave without being asked questions.

But this did not go down well with APC Senators who had stoutly opposed the clearance of Senator Obanikoro over his alleged involvement in the Ekiti governorship election.

The four nominees screened were, Senator Patricia Akwashiki from Nasarawa State, who was, according to the tradition of the Senate as a former Senator, told to take a bow and go.

Also screened were Prof. Nicholas Ada from Benue State, Col. Augustine Akobundu (retd), Abia State and Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo from Ebonyi State.

The remaining nominees whose screening was deferred till Tuesday apart from Obanikoro were Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan, Mr. Kenneth Kobani and Senator Joel Ikenya.