15kad-468b
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, unveiled the second batch of ministerial nominees, even as the screening of the earlier nominees forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari a fortnight ago, flagged off.
The fresh list containing 16 names was submitted to the Senate on Monday evening by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari during plenary.
Unlike the first list which had many old breed and recycled politicians, the new list is largely made up of relatively fresh faces most of who are technocrats and professionals.
Those on the new list include Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Claudius Omoleye Daramola, Professor Anthony Anwuka, Geoffrey Onyeama, Brig. Gen. MM Dan-Ali (Rtd), James E. Ocholi, Zainab Shasuna Ahmed and Okechuku Enelamah.
Others are Muhammadu Bello, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, Aisha Abubakar, Heineken Lokpobiri, Adamu Adamu, Professor Isaac Adewole, Pastor Usani Usani Uguru and Abubakar Bwari Bawa.
Conspicuously missing were the names of Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Chief Festus Odimegwu. In the last few weeks, both names had gone viral as part of President Buhari’s favoured ministerial hopefuls.
The fresh list has not generated any negative reactions neither has it gone viral on social media networks. Similarly, the names on the new list have not dominated the political space unlike the earlier names currently being screened.
Observers have commended President Buhari, saying the new list is in line with his much touted change. They said the new lists is a sharp departure from the all too familiar ‘noisemakers’ paraded in the earlier list which has no fewer than five former governors, some old ministers among other old brigades who had dominated the nations political landscape for decades.
The screening exercise of the first ten nominees ended at about 5.10pm and sitting adjourned till today.Meanwhile, the Senate has explained why former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi could not be screened alongside with other nominees. Briefing journalists after the Senate adjourned, chairman of the adhoc committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Dino Melaye, said the recommendations of the committee on Ethics and Public Petitions will be adopted during plenary today after which Amaechi will be cleared for screening.