Senate confirms Tinubu’s seven ministerial nominees

Nominees unveil plans, Ojukwu’s widow recounts ordeal as envoy
The Senate, at plenary yesterday, screened and approved the seven ministerial nominees sent by President Bola Tinubu, following discussions at the committee level.

The new ministers and their portfolios include Dr Nentawe Yilwatda (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction), Muhammadu Dingyadi (Labour and Employment), Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (State, Foreign Affairs), Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment), Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Livestock Development), Yusuf Ata (State, Housing and Urban Development), and Dr Suwaiba Ahmad (Minister of State, Education).

While the ministers unveiled their plans for the country, Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s widow, who was Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain, used the opportunity to narrate her ordeal as an envoy in Madrid.

During the screening, senators quizzed the nominees regarding their fresh plans for their respective ministries.

Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye commended Tinubu for appointing the widow of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a chieftain of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as minister.

The former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain emphasised that Nigeria would experience massive transformation if its citizens embrace peace.

She stated, “I am here because I believe that if we can come together sincerely to serve this nation, focusing on ensuring that we have peace, then the sky is the limit for this country.”

The former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria for 1988 and ex-Miss Africa explained how she spent a year in a hotel due to the poor state of the Nigerian embassy in Madrid, pointing out that the embassy’s deteriorated condition did not align with Nigeria’s image abroad, which motivated her to lead an extensive refurbishment project.

She urged the Federal Government to prioritise embassy maintenance.

Maiha assured Nigerians that the issue of farmers-herders clash would be a thing of the past after he had developed the 417 grazing areas in the country. He expressed his intent to provide necessary infrastructure and social amenities in the 417 grazing reserves across the country to discourage open grazing.

Oduwole pledged to continue with the economic policy of the Tinubu administration which focuses on investment, productivity and job creation.

A general laughter enveloped the Senate chamber when the Deputy Minority Whip, Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central), said he was threatened by Ata’s appointment.

“The appointment of this political juggernaut threatens me because we are from the same senatorial district. He is a grassroots politician who was my ally, but that said, I am in support of his nomination,” Hanga said.