Four ex-governors dominate Tinubu's list of 28 ministerial nominees forwarded to senate

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu's list of ministerial nominees has been presented to the Nigerian senate by his chief of staff Hon Femi Gbajabiamila who handed it over to the senate president Senator Godswill Akpabio who in turn read it out.

Under the dictates of Nigeria's constitution, the senate needs to confirm all of the president's ministerial nominees. Also, following a recent change to the rules, the president has 60 days from when he is sworn-in to appoint his ministers, giving President Tinubu just two days to stay within these limits as he took the oath of office on May 27.

This afternoon , Hon Gbajabiamila, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, delivered the 28-person ministerial list to the senate for consideration. Hon Gbajabiamila was led into the red chamber at exactly 1.19 pm by the sergeant-at-arms after a point of order was raised by the senate leader Senator Bamidele Opeyemi.

Senator Opeyemi raised Orders 12 and 51 of senate rules intimating senators of the executive communication from President Bola Tinubu. Responding after the presentation of the letter, Senator Akpabío read out the list of nominees.

Those who made the list to be screened and confirmed by the Senate include Abubakar Momoh, Yusuf Tukar, Ahmad Dangiwa, Hannatu Musawa, Uche Nnaji, Beta Edu, Doris Uzoka, Dave Umahi, Nyesome Wike, Muhammadu Badaru, Nasir El-Rufai, Ekprikpe Ekpo, Nkiru Onyechiocha and Bumi Tunji Ojo. Others were Stella Okotete, Uju Kennedy, Bello Muhammadu Gunyo, Dele Alake, Lateef Fagbemi, Muhammad Idris, Wale Edun, Waheed Adebayoe Adelabu, Emman Suleman Ibrahim, Ali Pate, Joseph Utse, Abubakar Kyari, John Enoh, Sani Abubakar Danladi.

Prominent among the names were former governors Dave Umahi, Nyesome Wike, Muhammadu Badaru, Nasir El-Rufai, of Ebonyi, Rivers, Jigawa and Kaduna States respectively. Also, the finance portfolios are expected to be handled by Ahmad Dangiwa, the managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Wale Edun, the former Lagos State finance commissioner.

Former Kano State governor Dr Abdullahi Ganduje was missing from the list as of late, he has been touted as the next chairman of the ruling Al Progressives Congress (APC). Controversial Dr Ganduje, who us still facing possible corruption charges, is however, facing opposition as he is from the northwest geo-political zone and it is believed that in the interest of fairness, the position should go to the north central zone.