Exceptional Moments From Wednesday's Ministerial Screening

Nigerians were made to wait in vain for the commencement of the day three of the ministerial nominees’ screening at the National Assembly today, as the Senators informed that they were not screening any of the nominees until next week Tuesday, October 20, 2015.
But, before the postponement, 18 ministerial nominees had been confirmed by the senate during the screening session yesterday from the initial 21 sent by President Muhammadu Buhari after one of them had been withdrawn.
Reports this morning also revealed that former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, may have to wait longer before being approved as a minister of the federal republic.
This is because the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions is yet to submit its report on petitions leveled against the former governor over his purported nomination as a ministerial nominee.
Naij.com brings you five exceptional events from yesterday’s screening and confirmation of the ministerial nominees.
1. Fashola’s answers to questions held everyone spell bound
Maybe his charm held every member on the floor of the National Assembly spell-bound because he was the first ministerial nominee to be screened on the day, the former Lagos state governor was quite on point which all his explanations.

Someone even suggested a pin-drop silence was prevalent in the premises as everyone listened with rapt attention to hear the prospective Federal Capital Territory minister.

His speech was met with widespread applause by Nigerians who were torn between having him as the Nigerian president and the incoming sports minister.
2. Chris Ngige’s Charm
He was followed by some of his supporters, and when he got on the podium, all he did was smile and say a few things.
Of note was his statement on being an ‘assembler’ of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one of those called to ‘assemble’ the recently-constituted All Progressives Congress (APC), on which platform he contested and won the election to become a senator of the federal republic.

Chris Ngige greets Senators in the 8th NASS

After his supposed ‘ramblings’, as his jovial messages seemed, Dr Ngige was simply asked to bow and go, without being necessarily asked any further questions by the senators as the two people before him were.
3. Senators were asked to bow and go without any questioning
While Nigerians were expecting a barrage of questions for all the ministerial nominees during the screening session, some of them were simply asked to ‘bow down and go’ without being questioned at all.
This was seen in a different light by everyone who stayed glued to their televisions as the people before them had been made to go through rigorous question and answer sessions, notably among them was that of Fashola.

Aisha Jummai Alhassan undergoes screening

Senators Chris Ngige, Hadi Sirika and Aisha Jummai Alhassan, popularly called Mama Taraba for her infamous loss at the gubernatorial election earlier this year, were all asked to ‘bow down and go’ without any formal questioning by members of the Red Chambers.
4. London-bred Kemi Adeosun sweating during the question and answer sessions
Apparently choking up from the heat of the questions being thrown at her, the immediate past finance commissioner of Ogun state was seen using her handkerchief at intervals while attending to questions.

• 
  

Kemi Adeosun undergoing screening

Questions were hurled at her amid speculations that she might be made the next finance minister, a post which is a very sensitive one in a country which has been bedeviled by corruption in recent past.

After her successful defence of the questions, a visibly relieved Adeosun was seen smiling as she took her bow and left.
5. Lai Mohammed’s controversial approval
The most appealing moment of the day, perhaps, was when the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, asked the house if they agreed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary be approved as a minister of the federal republic.

The senators who claimed to be in support shouted ‘Hi’ and when he asked for those who were against to say ‘Nay’, there was also a chorus response which was followed by laughter.
Saraki subsequently approved Alhaji Mohammed as a minister of the federal republic, but it was not clear if he was popular among the National Assembly members.

source: Naij.com