After what seemed like an indefinite wait, President Umaru Yar’Adua yesterday handed over the list of new ministerial nominees to the Senate President, David Mark, who in turn is expected to table it before the Senate today.
Daily Independent gathered from a senior Aso Rock official last night that the list was submitted to Mark at about 9.00 p.m. by Yar’Adua’s National Assembly Liaison Officer, Senator Abba Aji.
Though the official did not explain why the list was given out very late, it was gathered that the fear of possible leak to the press might have been responsible.
However, the submission of the list may not bring to a closure the controversy surrounding the nominations as only 13 names of the expected 22 nominees were on it. Daily Independent gathered that the President opted to submit the names in batches. No reason was given for the piecemeal approach.
A source close to the Senate President while confirming the receipt of the list added that “the Senate President will present the list before the Senate today. As it is the tradition, any correspondence from the President is read on the floor as soon as it is received. So, it is likely that the list will be the first agenda on the Order Paper tomorrow (today).”
Though the source did not give details of those that made the list, it was reliably gathered that former Governors of Imo, Ebonyi and Kebbi States, Achike Udenwa, Sam Egwu and Adamu Aliero are among the 13 names. Also included are Dr Shettima Mustapha, Dora Akunyili, Director General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Babatunde Osotimehin, Director General of National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) and Rilwanu Lukman. No All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) member made the list.
The source added that those included in the first batch “are people that the security agencies have found impeccable.”
He explained that the rigorous screening became necessary to avoid a situation where a minister’s past may turn up later to embarrass the President.
Besides, the development is in line with Yar’Adua’s method of taking decisions after painstaking considerations and wide consultations, he added.
The source further explained that the delay in appointing new ministers or sending their names to the Senate was not because the President was confused about the choices to make but because he wanted to do things the right way.