Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and seven others has made the list of as ministerial nominees President Goodluck Jonathan sent to the Senate

The president, in a letter dated February 16, 2015, read on the Senate floor by the Senate President, David Mark, said he was making the nomination in expectation that the Senate would treat his request with “traditional prompt attention.”

Other nominees include Senator Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa State), Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba), Professor Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue), Colonel Augustine Okwudiri Akobindu retd (Abia), Mr Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi), Mrs Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa) and Mr Kenneth Kobani (Rivers).

Senator Akwashiki will replace former Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, who resigned to contest the gubernatorial election, while Professor Ada is to replace former Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom, who also resigned to contest the governorship seat in Benue.

Akonbundu is replacing the former Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, who also resigned from the cabinet to contest Abia governorship election.

Hajia Lawan will replace former Minister of Education, Professor Ruquayyat Ruffai, who was sacked last year, while Kobani is to replace former Minister of State for Education, Nyeson Wike, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.

Senator Ikenya will be replacing former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dahirus Ishaku.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, told newsmen in the National Assembly that the ministerial nominees would be screened next week.

•Adapted from Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows Obanikoro.

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