Despite vows by the opposition to stop him, the Senate on Wednesday confirmed Musiliu Obanikoro as a federal minister.
The move to stop him was hinged on some audio tape that allegedly suggested moves by the PDP to rig the Ekiti Governorship election. But unfortunately did not incriminate Obanikoro no Governor Ayo Fayose.
The Senate approved Mr. Obanikoro’s nomination as a minister, Wednesday, after repeated deferments, despite protests from senators from Lagos State, Mr. Obanikoro’s home state, and other opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, who had vowed to stop the clearance over the Ekiti scandal.
As a former senator himself, the Senate allowed Mr. Obanikoro to “take a bow and go”, without answering questions, a privilege reserved for former federal lawmakers.
APC lawmakers responded by walking out of the session in protest.
Members of the opposition had vowed to stop the re-appointment of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as minister following his alleged indictment in the use of the military to rig the Ekiti governorship election in June last year.
Spokesperson of the APC Senate Caucus, Babafemi Ojudu, who spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, explained that other senators from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party were also being co-opted into the struggle.
He said APC senators had started mobilising themselves to frustrate Obanikoro’s clearance and approval for fresh appointment.
He said, “We will do everything possible to stop Obanikoro from being cleared as a minister. Ordinarily, being a former senator he is expected to take a bow and receive automatic clearance but in the present circumstance he has serious issues to clear.