The Southeast Senate caucus has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint two more ministers from the zone.

They insisted that the two additional slots would make for equity, fairness and justice in the representation of all geopolitical zones in the present administration at the centre

This demand was contained in a motion moved by Senator Tony Nwoye (LP – Anambra North) on Monday night.

It was co-sponsored by the remaining 14 Senators from the Southeast.

Nwoye, in his lead debate, complained that the Southeast had the lowest ministerial representation among those nominated by the President, with only five.

They are Dr Uju Kennedy Ohaneye (Anambra), Nkiru Onyejiocha (Abia), Uche Nnaji (Enugu), Senator Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), and Doris Uzoka (Imo).

Nwoye insisted that President Tinubu’s action violated Section 5 (a) and (b) as well as Section 4 (1) of the Federal Character Commission Act Laws of the Federation, 2004.

He also said under-representation of the Southeast in the present government would not make for national unity and loyalty as enshrined in Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He called on the Senate to prevail on the President to pick at least two additional ministers from the Southeast to balance the nation’s geopolitical representation in the administration.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, interrupted the Nwoye during his lead debate.

He promised that the leadership of the Senate would take up the matter with the President as soon as possible.

After a stormy screening session on Monday, the Senate deferred the clearance of three ministerial nominees.

They are former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Stella Okotete (Delta) and Taraba State nominee Abubakar Danladi.

The remaining 45 nominees, screened throughout last week, were confirmed for deployment.

The screening of the last nominee, former APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, Festus Keyamo (SAN) (Delta), threw the Senate into a stormy session.

The spark was a motion by Sen. Darlington Nkwocha (Abia Central), which was seconded by Senator Eyinaya Abaribe (Abia South).

They demanded that Keyamo’s screening should be put on hold for disrespecting the 9th National Assembly when he was Minister of State (Labour and Employment).

After the rowdy session, the Senate moved into an executive session.

Akpabio, accompanied by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, made a brisk visit to Aso Villa. On their return, Keyamo apologised and was allowed to take a bow and leave.

The Senate returned to plenary for the confirmation hearing.

Those cleared are: Adebayo Olawale Edun (Ogun), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau), Dele Alake (Ekiti), Abubakar Kyari (Borno), Abubakar Momoh (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Joseph Utserv (Benue), John Enoh (Cross River), Bello Mohammad (Sokoto), Mohammed Abubakar (Jigawa), Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi), Uju Ohaneye (Anambra), Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Ondo), Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Abia) and Betta Edu (Cross River).

Also confirmed are Sulieman Ibrahim (Nasarawa), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Ahmed Dangiwa (Katsina), Uche Nnaji (Enugu), Waheed Adelabu (Oyo), Mohammed Idris (Niger), Ali Pate (Bauchi), Doris Anite Uzoka (Imo), Lateef Fabemi (Kwara), Ekperikpe Ekpo (Akwa Ibom), Hannatu Musawa (Katsina), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger), Hieneken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Alkali Saidu (Gombe), Tanko Sununu (Kebbi) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi).

Others are Abdullahi Tijani Muhammad Gwarzo (Kano), Bosun Tijani (Ogun), Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure (Kano), Iziaq Salako (Ogun), Tunji Alausa (Lagos), Lola Ade-John (Lagos), Tahir Mamman (Adamawa), Zephaniah Jisalo (Federal Capital Territory) and Uba Ahmadu (Taraba), Shuaibu Audu (Kogi).

The Presidency said the ministers-designate will undergo induction before they are sworn in.

The Senate has proceeded on its annual vacation till September 26. (The Nation)

Update news