The senate has on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 confirmed former minister of state for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has been confirmed as a minister.
This confirmation comes after his recommendation by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Obanikoro who resigned as minister of state for Defence had earlier quit his job to seek the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, which he lost to Jimi Agbaje.
Senators on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) vehemently kicked against his nomination over his alleged ‘militarization’ of Ekiti State, prior to the victory of Governor Ayo Fayose at the governorship election.
Visibly vocal about his displeasure over Obanikoro’s nomination was Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East, who raised a point of order saying th former Ambassador of Nigeria to Ghana had a pending case in court.
In order to buttress his point, Senator Ashafa brought out a copy of the Nation Newspaper, stressing that Senate President, David Mark and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were joined in the suit.
Ashafa was ruled as out of order by Mark, who said he is yet to be served any court papers.
Senator Mark said: “You don’t serve me on the pages of the newspaper. As far as I am concerned, there is no case in court, so I rule you out of order.”
Senator Obanikoro was not grilled but was asked to take a bow and leave in adherence of the tradition of the Senate, where a former Senator is not asked questions but is simply asked to take a bow and leave.
The Senate consequently confirmed Senator Obanikoro as minister prompting APC Lawmakers to stage a walk out.
Senator Obanikoro took to Twitter to express his gratitude to the Senate:
I want to use this medium to express my profound gratitude to my distinguished colleagues in the Senate for their kind support. #MO
— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) March 11, 2015
I am particularly grateful to the President of the Senate and other principal officers representing the Senate majority and minority. #MO
— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) March 11, 2015
I have no ill feelings towards the Senators from Lagos who stood against me. Their position has amplified the strength of our democracy. #MO
— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) March 11, 2015
In times like these, we learn that there is no winner or loser and that our shared hopes are greater than the politics that divide us. #MO
— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) March 11, 2015