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ABUJA – The Senate on Wednesday gave a clean bill of health to Bianca Ojukwu, wife of former governor of Eastern Nigeria, Odumegu Ojukwu, and six other minister-designates forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu had penultimate week carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle that axed some ministers, and reassigned a few.
At Wednesday’s screening, Senators expressed satisfaction at Bianca’s achievements as former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain.
In her presentation, the nominee from Anambra State lamented the state of the country’s Embassies abroad, regretting that poor funding has put the posts in “deplorable conditions that do not represent Nigeria’s standing in the comity of nations.”
According to her, it was “imperative to renovate the buildings and make the surrounding suitable for lawmakers to use when you come to these countries, and to interface with foreign partners.”
She noted that among the country’s challenges was commitment to service, adding “if we are committed to serving this nation with the focus of finding peace, we shall succeed.”
The 56 year old former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the UN explained the need for a robust foreign policy that would change the country’s standing internationally.
Recall that Bianca had served as Commissioner of Peace and Reconciliation in Anambra State which focused on unraveling the causes of insecurity in the Southeast
Her screening, like others which took place during plenary, was however hassles-free, as most Lawmakers shied away from asking probing questions.
A few Senators who spoke during the exercise commended Tinubu for bringing in nominees despite party affiliations.
The nomination, according to Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia North) highlighted the administration’s focus on the unity of the country.
He said, “The President must be commended for nominating someone across party lines, even someone from APGA, and the wife of my former party leader, late Chief Odumegu Ojukwu. By this the President has started a unity government and the process of national integration.”
On his part, Senator Victor Umeh (APGA State) described her nomination as a healing process for the country.
Other Senators from the southeast who spoke include Senators Osita Ugwu (Enugu State) and Joe Nwoye (Anambra) who hailed the president for reaching across party lines.
The Red Chamber further screened Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, from Plateau State.
Yilwatda, President Tinubu’s nominee for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was also a former Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Others screened include Muhammadu Dingyadi (Sokoto : Minister-designate, Labour and Employment), Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (Kano : Minister-designate, Housing & Urban Development), Idi Maiha (Adamawa : Minister-designate, Livestock Development), Jumoke Oduwole (Lagos : Minister-designate, Trade and Investment), and Suwaiba Ahmad (Jigawa- Minister of State -designate, Education).
