How David Mark 'Forcefully' Confirms Obanikoro Minister While APC Senators Reject Him
There was drama in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber today as the Senate
President, David Mark, carefully orchestrated the confirmation of Musiliu
Obanikoro as Nigeria’s minister of state for defence. The nominee had given up
the same position to run in the party primaries for governor of Lagos State
Mr. Obanikoro’s confirmation had previously been held up on three occasions as
up to 40 Senators rejected his candidacy over his involvement in the rigging
of last year’s gubernatorial poll in Ekiti.
A rigging meeting on the eve of the election featured some of the principal
characters in the plot, including Obanikoro, and was secretly taped by an army
captain and published by SaharaReporters.
Today, a ruthless Mr. Mark, apparently working on a plan to railroad the
confirmation process, mobilized People Democratic Party Senators to the
chambers of the Senate for Mr. Obanikoro’s confirmation. Knowing that many of
his colleagues, especially members of the All Progressives
Congress, wanted to question the
nominee, Mark merely asked the assembled Senators to vote on whether they
wanted Mr. Obanikoro to “bow and go,” a strategy used as an informal blessing
when Senators do not wish to question the president’s nominees.
The APC Senators staged a walkout in response, and addressed the media
denouncing Mr. Obanikoro’s confirmation. They wanted it on record that they
objected to Obanikoro’s confirmation because he is a known election-rigger in
view of his role in the unfolding Ekiti State governorship story.
“The hilarious thing is that these most of these Senators appear to have the
same shelf life as the man they just fraudulently confirmed for a filthy
Ministerial chair,” a political analyst said in response. “None of them may
have a job after May 29, but from now on, the Senators carry on their heads
the guilt and stench of Obanikoro.”
Asked what he meant, he said, “Can’t you see? Some people will now be known as
‘Obanikoro Senator.’”
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