More Ministerial Nominees Emerge As Anxiety Grows
SAN FRANCISCO, June 19, (THEWILL) – The Presidency has forwarded more names of ministerial nominees to the State Security Service (SSS) irrespective of its denial last week that it did not forward the names published in the media to the secret police for security clearance and screening.
There are about twenty (20) new names contained in a new list sent to the SSS weekend for screening, THEWILL learned on Sunday. A list of twelve nominees was sent to the SSS early last week.
The new entrants are a former Minister of both Finance and Foreign Affairs, and a current Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; retired International Athlete, former African sprint queen and Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Onyali-Omagbemi; daughter of Chief Richard Akinjide, Ms Jumoke Akinjide; former Transport Minister, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman; former PTDF Executive Secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar; Alhaji Nuhu Zagbayi, a former Deputy Governor of Niger State; Acting PDP National Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Haliru Bello and PDP National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Alkali.
Others are: Dr. Tonye Cole; a former President of the NCWS, Hajiya Zainab Maina; Dr. Akinwumi Adefila, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani; Mr. Mohammed Musa; Dr. Akinwumi Adefila; former Kwara State Commissioner for Education and ex Thisday Newspaper Staff, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi; Alhaji Yerima Ngama and former Imo State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Ada Okwuonu.
Recall THEWILL had reported on Wednesday last week that the following persons had been screened by the SSS following the first batch of names dispatched to the service by the Presidency.
Those screened include: Former Minister, Niger Delta Ministry, Elder Godsday Orubebe; former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke; former Presidential Adviser on Power, Professor Bath Nnaji; Former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke; former Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu; former Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku and former Labour and Productivity Minister, Chief Chukwuemeka Ngozi Wogu.
Others include: Former Foreign Minister, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, SAN; former FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode; former Special Duties Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade and former Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayatu Rufai.
More nominees are expected as the President is expected to consider those who served in the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCP) alongside nominees from minority political parties following President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s resolve to bring in opposition parties into his government.