Posted by By ISMAIL OMIPIDAN and LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
Former member of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo's economic team, Mr. Bode Agusto, on Tuesday became the odd man out as the Senate denied him confirmation as a minister. Thirty-nine others scaled the hurdle.
• Clears 39 nominees
Former member of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo's economic team, Mr. Bode Agusto, on Tuesday became the odd man out as the Senate denied him confirmation as a minister. Thirty-nine others scaled the hurdle.
Those who were confirmed by the Senate will be sworn in and formally inaugurated by President Umar Yar'Adua as members of the new Federal Executive Council on Thursday at 10.30 am.
Presidential spokesman, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, who made this known in Abuja on Tuesday, said the decision to inaugurate the cabinet was sequel to Tuesday's confirmation of all the ministerial nominees by the Senate save Agusto.
He said each minister-designate might be accompanied to the swearing-in ceremony in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa by a maximum of two guests.
The names of such accompanying guests are to be forwarded to the Presidential Villa in advance.
Those who have been confirmed as ministers include: Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma (Katsina), Senator Akin Olasunkanmi, (Osun), Mrs. Ekphiwhre Grace (Delta), Aishatu Jibril Dukku (Gombe), John Ogar Odey (Cross River), Fidelia Akubata Njezie (Enugu), Mallam Yayale Ahmed (Bauchi), Chief Ojo Maduekwe (Abia), Amb. Bagudu Hirse (Plateau), Mr. Aderemi Babalola (Oyo), Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe (Akwa Ibom), Halima Tayo Alao (Kwara), Arc. Gabriel Yakubu Aduku (Kogi), Igwe Aja Wachukwu (Ebonyi), H.Odein Ajumogobia, SAN (Rivers), Maj. Gen. Godwin Abbe, (Edo), Sen. Sanusi Daggash (Borno), Dr. Shamsudeen Usman (Kano), Kayode Adetokunbo Adeyinka, SAN (Ondo), Adamu Maina Waziri (Yobe), Dr. Hassan Mohammed Lawal (Nasarawa), Fatima Balaraba Ibrahim (Kebbi), Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar (Gombe), Dr. Idi Aliyu Hong (Adamawa), Ahmed Garba Bichi (Kano) and Mohammed Ahmed Gusau (Sokoto).
Others are: Abdurahman Hassan Gimba (Niger), Sharafa Tunji Ishola (Ogun), Prince Emeka John Okechukwu (Anambra), TijjaniYahaya Kaura (Zamfara), Saudatu Usman Bagudu, (Zamfara ANPP), Mrs. Diezani K.Alison Madueke (Bayelsa), Agada Anthony (Benue)
Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande (Plateau, ANPP), Michael Andoakaa (Benue), Tunde Emmanuel Odusina (Ekiti), Prof. (Mrs.) Adenike Grange (Lagos), Hassan Alhaji Haruna (Jigawa) and Chief Charles Chukwuemeka Ugwuh (Imo).
Before the commencement of the process that led to their confirmation, Senate President, Senator David Mark, had told the senators that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had cleared the air over the records of four nominees, saying they all served out their NYSC.
The four are Sharafa Tunji Ishola (Ogun), Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, (Ebonyi), Mr. John Odey (Cross River) and Prince Emeka John Okechukwu (Anambra).
"Let me report back on the issue of whether some people did the mandatory one year service. The report from the NYSC is that they all did the mandatory one year service," Mark said, adding that their records were already before the Senate.
He also disclosed that the nominee from Imo State, Chief Charles Ugwu, has provided proof of his membership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
Mark, thereafter, proceeded with the exercise. The exercise, which initially started peacefully suddenly became rancorous when it got to the turn of Bode Agusto, who was number six on the confirmatory list. Twice the question was put, twice the senators, mostly of them PDP voted "nay," and twice the Senate president was momentarily indecisive.
At this point, the deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, made frantic but fruitless effort to push through the nomination of Agusto, but it was again met with stiff opposition, with majority of the senators insisting that the nominee be dropped.
Again, the Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, moved a motion urging the Senate to step down the consideration of the nominee so as to allow more time to resolve whatever differences may have arisen, but the motion was roundly defeated.
When the question was put the third time, the ‘nays' had it, and the Senate president ruled accordingly, thereby dashing the hope of Agusto being confirmed a minister.
Meanwhile, fresh facts emerged on Tuesday on why Agusto was not confirmed even as Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, declared that the dropping of the nominee was politically motivated.
However, some senators believed that the nominee, who was a member of former President Obasanjo's economic team, may have been axed because of the non-performance of budget during his tenure.
Besides, others say he was unusually arrogant when he appeared before them during the screening exercise, as they were unable to relate the statistics he churned out with the realities on ground with respect to budget performance when he was in office.
Mamora told Daily Sun that he was shocked by what played out on the floor of the Senate concerning the confirmation of Agusto.
Hear him:" I believe the dropping of the nominee was politically motivated. Don't forget, things have fallen apart in the Lagos PDP; otherwise this is a nominee that got the endorsement of all the three senators from Lagos. He demonstrated deep courage and competence in the area he was questioned when he appeared before us.
"I was shocked with respect to the reaction of senators from the majority party (PDP). The overwhelming opposition to him was shocking, because this is one person that did very well during the screening exercise. And you see that is the tragedy. We should not sacrifice merit on the altar of partisanship. It would appear that was the politics that played out.
"I don't subscribe to the claim that the nominee is arrogant. It is a question of perception. We perceive people differently, depending on the circumstances you get to meet people. I think the man is a victim of crisis in the Lagos PDP caucus."
Also speaking in the same vein, Lagos PDP governorship candidate in the last governorship election, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said: "I have said that as a Muslim, I have learnt to leave things to God and it is only God who determines what He wills. Though, we have said that the nomination of a politician from Lagos will help the cause of the party in many ways, that does not mean that we were out to fight his nomination (Agusto's)."
In a related development, names of two fresh nominees have been sent to the Senate by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, for confirmation.
The nominees are Mr. Felix Hyet (Kaduna), who is the incumbent SSG of the state and Hassan Bako (Taraba). Hyet replaces Dr. Ahmed Adamu, while Bako replaces Ibrahim El-Sudi. The two nominees are expected to be considered for subsequent confirmation.
In a related development, senators from the South-East have openly protested what they described as marginalization of the zone in the appointment of ministers. They argued that while the North-East and North-West zones have eight slots each, their zone was left with just five.
Those who canvassed this position are Senators Ayogu Eze (Enugu), Aloysius Akpan and Enyinnaya Abaribe.