As the ministerial nominees appear before the upper legislative chamber today to present their credentials and equally tell Nigerians why they are capable of facing the hurdles awaiting them as Federal Ministers under President Buhari, many of the names may not pass smoothly before the senate. But some might just be told to “Take A Bow and Go”.
Likely nominees that might enjoy the “Bow and Go” priviledge are;
- Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige,:Medical doctor turned politician. Ngige ran for election for Senator of Anambra Central, on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform. After voting problems in some areas of the constituency on 9 April, the election in these areas was held on 25 April and Ngige was declared the winner over former Minister of Information and Communications Professor Dora Akunyili of the APGA, with 69,765 votes to Akunyili’s 69,292. Ngige’s tenure as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria came to an end following his defeat in the 2015 election by Hon. Uche Ekwunife who has been sworn in as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the current 8th National Assembly of Nigeria.
- Senator Udoma Udo Udoma: was elected Senator for the Akwa-Ibom South constituency of Akwa Ibom State, at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He took office on 29 May 1999. He was reelected in April 2003, again running on the PDP platform. After taking his seat in the Senate in June 1999, he was appointed to committees on Public Accounts, Judiciary, Banking & Currency, Science & technology, Privatization and Drug & Narcotics (vice chairman).
- Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan is a Nigerian politician who is a Senator represented Taraba North constituency of Taraba State, which she won under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). She later decamped to the main opposition party All Progressive Congress (APC) and became the Gubernatorial Candidate of Taraba State for the 2015 general elections. She was defeated in the election re-run held on 25th of April 2015 and failed to become Nigeria’s 1st female democratically elected Governor.
- Senator Hadi Sirika represented Katsina North senatorial district of Katsina State, As a former pilot, Sirika is a member of the Senate Committee on Aviation
So you ask why must these people listed above be asked to take a bow and go while others go through the grilling process, what makes them special and unique from other ministerial nominees?
On Wednesday, the 12th of February 2014 Senator Musiliu Obanikoro being a ministerial nominee of President Goodluck Jonathan appeared before the senate amongst other nominee for screening. When he mounted the podium to commence the question and answer session, the Senate President at that time – Senator David Mark simply asked him to “Take A Bow And Go”. When asked why he took that decision, he simply explained that “it is a privilege reserved for former federal lawmakers” Obanikoro was a former lawmaker hence, was among the privileged ones.
So this senerio might just replay itself once more Senators Ngige, Udoma, Al-Hassan and Sirika might just stroll in and out of the senate floor without answering a single question all in the name of “Espirit De Corp “ in the senate.
Let’s wait and see.
