- By Kamil Opeyemi
The senate has declined to confirm the nomination of former Governor of Kaduna state Mallam Nasir el-Rufai as minister.
This was disclosed by the senate President Godswill Akpabio Akpabio said: “El-Rufai and two others have not been cleared by security checks.”
This was just as the Senate approved the appointment of 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
The nominees were confirmed on Monday evening after the upper legislative chamber concluded the screening of the candidates.
The nominees include Sen. Abubakar Kyari (Borno ), Abubakar Momoh (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Prof. Joseph Utsev (Benue), Sen. John Enoh (Cross River).
Others are Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Ondo), Dr Betta Edu (Cross River) Imaan Sulaiman (Nasarawa), Ahmed Dangiwa (Katsina), Uche Nnaji (Enugu),
The nominees include Bello Muhammad (Sokoto), Mohammed Badaru (Jigawa), Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi), Uju-Ken Ohaneye (Anambra).
Abdullahi Gwarzo (Kano), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Tunji Alausa ( Lagos), Adegboyega Oyetola,Osun and Uba Ahmadu (Taraba).
“Lola John (Lagos), Dr Isiak Salako (Ogun), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Dr Yusuf Sununu (Kebbi), Prof. Tahir Mamman (Adamawa), Zaphaniah Jisalo (FCT), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Dr. Bosun Tijjani (Ogun) are on the list.
“Shuaibu Abubakar Audu (Kogi), Sen. Sabi Abdullahi (Niger), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Sen. Alkali Ahmed (Gombe), Dr Mariya Bunkure (Kano), Festus Keyamo (Delta) and Hannatu Musawa.
“Dr Dorris Uzoka (Imo), David Umahi , Ekperipe Ekpo (Akwa-Ibom), Nkiru Onyeojiocha (Abia), Dele Alake (Ekiti), Lateef Fagbemi (Kwara), Muhammad Idris (), Olawale Edun (Ondo) Adebayo Adelabu (Oyo) and Prof. Ali Pate (Bauchi).
el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna; and two other nominees — Stella Okotete (Delta) and Danladi Abubakar (Taraba) were not confirmed as the senate awaits security clearance about them.
“The others are still awaiting security clearance,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said after announcing the names of those approved by the senate.
NPO Reported had last week how Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi West, presented a petition against el-Rufai during his screening.
A petition was also submitted against Okotete.
On July 27, Tinubu sent the list of nominees made up of 28 persons to the senate for screening and confirmation.
Six days later, the president forwarded additional 19 names to make the total number of ministerial nominees 47
However, on Friday, Tinubu replaced one of the two nominees Maryam Shetty, a nominee from Kano, with Mairiga Mahmud.
The president also included Festus Keyamo’s name in the list to make the nominees 48 in total.