Ministers: Senate stops El-Rufai, Okotete, Danladi
El-Rufai awaits security reports, checks Confirms Wike, Keyamo, Alake, Tunji-Ojo, Pate, Fagbemi, Edu, 38 others
AFTER seven days of screening, the Senate has confirmed 45 of the 48 ministerial nominees presented by President Bola Tinubu.
Those who were denied confirmation, yesterday, over security report or pending security checks are immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai; former Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Senator Abubakar Danladi; and Stella Okotete, from Delta State. The trio had petitions against their nominations.
Specifically, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the Senate did not clear them because of security reports that must be cleared.
However, the senators confirmed immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Deputy Majority Senate Leader and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; former Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo SAN; Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Simon Bako Lalong and Mr. Dele Alake as Ministers-designate.
Also confirmed were Abubakar Momoh; Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa, Mr. Hannatu Musawa, Chief Uche Nnaji, Dr. Betta Edu, Dr. Dorris Aniche Uzoka, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, Ekperipe Ekpo, and Nkiru Onyejeocha.
The lawmakers also cleared Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Muhammad Idris, Olawale Edun, Waheed Adebayo Adelabu, Mrs Iman Suleiman Ibrahim, Professor Ali Pate, Professor Joseph Utsev, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and Senator John Enoh.
The rest are Lola Ade- John, Bosun Tijani, Dr. Isiaka Salako, Professor Tahir Mamman, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Mairiga, Adegboyega Oyetola, Ibrahim Geidam, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Senator Alkali Ahmed Said, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Bello Matawalle, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, and Honourable Zephaniah Jisalo, and Tunji Alausa.
With the development, the North-West and South-West have nine ministers-designate each; the North-Central has eight, South-South and North-East seven each, and South-East has five.
