Between Ministerial Screening of "Take A Bow and JAMB” questions

Contrary to what the public were expecting, the floor of the senate was thrown into a mix of drama and business on Tuesday as the lawmakers questioned each of the ministerial nominees one after the other.

Ten nominees were ushered in for screening starting from Udo Udoma who himself was a lawmaker, having being a senator in the sixth senate. Expectedly, he answered few questions, took a bow without serious scrutiny,

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi followed, he was asked some good questions, including his government and the allegation of controversial N50 million bed in the government house, which he denied he wasn’t purchased at that price.

According to him, none of the beds in the government house cost above N1.5 million.

Audu Ogbe spoke on investing in Agriculture and was allowed to take a bow. He is a political godfather to many of the lawmakers. He was screened in the second republic by Senate leader, Olusola Saraki who happened to be the father of the current president of the senate, Bukola Saraki.

However the screening became mild when the National Publicity Secretary of APC and a nominee, Alhaji Lai Mohammed showed up, noise of “Take a bow” rented the air.

President of the Senate Bukola Saraki had posited Lai Mohammed should not bother himself with his Curriculum Vitae, adding that the lawmakers had already seen it but that if the nominee would like to add anything, he should say it.

 At this juncture, the Senate Leader Ali Ndume moves that Lai Mohammed takes a bow and go but Saraki asked that Senators allow him (Mohammed) to speak.

In his speech, Lai Mohammed said he might have ruffled a few feathers in the course of his duties, but it wasn’t personal. He said it’s service to be in the opposition, but a higher service to serve in Government.

At this point, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio said having known Lai Mohammed so well, it is not unusual that he might have a propaganda to drop before the Senate.

The upper chamber was thrown into another round of frenzy, as Saraki, at this point asked Lai Mohammed to speak a few more words before he bows and go.

The APC national image-maker, who is touted to become the Minister of Information, added that his mission and vision if confirmed minister is to be passionate, committed and patriotic as he was as APC National Publicity Secretary.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed bowed and left, as the next nominee Amina Mohammed Ibrahim from Gombe State entered, at the time of filing this report.