Senate Clears Gusau, Obanikoro, 4 Others As Ministers

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed six of the 12 ministerial nominees sent to it by President Goodluck Jonathan after screening.

Those who scaled through the screening hurdles were a former Ambassador to Ghana, Musiliu Obanikoro, a former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, Mohammed Wakil, Ambassador Aminu Wali, Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi and Mrs. Lawrencia Labaran Mallam.

The first to be screened and confirmed was Obanikoro, a former Senator and PDP governorship candidate in Lagos state.

He had it easy as the senators simply asked him to take a bow in line with the Senate's tradition after reading out his curriculum vitae.

Obanikoro, who was accompanied to the gallery by two former senators- Teslim Folarin and Iyiola Omisore, informed the Upper Chamber lawmakers that he had served as a Local Government Chairman, Commissioner, Senator and Nigeria's Ambassador to Ghana.

Also, a former National Security Adviser, Gusau, was asked to take a bow after Senate President David Mark introduced him as a graduate of the inaugural class of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Only former Ambassador to China, Aminu Wali, was quizzed as the other four nominees had it smooth scaling through the screening.

The remaining six ministerial nominees would take their turns tomorrow.