Senate defers Obanikoro’s ministerial screening

‎The senate on Wednesday deferred the screening of Musiliu Obanikoro, former minister of state for defence, to next week.

However, four ministerial nominees were screened. They are Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa state), Nicholas Akise Ada ( Benue state), Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (Abia state) and Fidelis Nwankwo( Ebonyi state).

Obanikoro had resigned his post as minister of state for defence to contest the Lagos governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But after losing the ticket to Jimi Agbaje, who would now confront Akinwumi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) next month, President Goodluck Jonathan re-nominated Obanikoro for a return to the federal executive council.

The senate had slated Wednesday for the screening of Obanikoro and seven others as ministers‎, but midway into the screening session, David Mark, senate president, deferred the process to next week.

It is not clear why the senate took the decision, but sources say it was to douse the tension that had been brewing in the senate over the likely confirmation of Obanikoro as‎ minister.

Some All Progressives Congress (APC) se‎nators had left the upper chamber when it became clear to them that Obanikoro would not come before senate.

The senators had vowed to resist the confirmation of Obanikoro as minister.

As a senator from 2003 to 2007, Obanikoro, in the tradition of the senate, is expected to take a bow and leave when he appear‎s before the upper chamber, but that may not happen as the APC senators are set against him.

Nevertheless, the Peoples Democratic Party has the majority in the senate; hence Obanikoro’s confirmation is expected to sail through, perhaps with a fight.

Akwashiki, the first to appears before the senate, was not grilled. Owing to her status as a former senator, she took a bow and left‎.

However, the three other min‎isterial nominees were questioned by senators.

Responding to a question from Abdul Ningi, senate deputy minority leader, on the best curriculum for education in Nigeria, Akise, a professor of education who may likely emerge minister of state for education, stated that the Nigerian education curriculum would be developed to meet the developmental needs of the country. He suggested that the curriculum should be reviewed based on the needs of the country.

Afterwards, Akobundu, a retired colonel, took some time to greet members of the senate, a move that made some senators to call for his quick dispatch.

He, however, answered a few questions and exited the chamber.