JUST IN: Senate Confirms Gusau, Obanikoro, Others As Ministers

The Senate early today (Tuesday) confirmed Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), General Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara) and nine others as ministers.

* Sen. Obanikoro

Obanikoro would represent Lagos State in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) after a formal swearing in by President Goodluck Jonathan.

PresidentJonathan had last week sent two letters to the Senate, seeking its confirmation of 12 ministerial nominees, as well as the consideration and approval of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and three other service chiefs.

Those on the list included Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos); Aminu Wali and Hadjia Jamila Salik (Kano); Mrs Lawrencia Laraba Mallam (Kaduna); Mrs Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom); Honourable Mohammed Wakil (Borno); and Abdul Jelili Oyewale Adesiyan (Osun).

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Others were Dr Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto); Tamuno Danagogo (Rivers); Mrs Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger); General Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara) and Mr Boni Haruna (Adamawa).

Danagogo, a former Commissioner for Urban Development in Rivers State, left the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led administration in a controversial move late 2013.

He was reported to have told members of PDP at Abonema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, that he remained a member of PDP, adding that he was more confortable in PDP that joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Amaechi.

President Jonathan, in the letter to the Senate, said he sent the list to the Senate in compliance with the provisions of Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

In his second letter, the president also asked the Senate to confirm for immediate appointment Air Marshal Alex Badeh as Chief of Defence Staff;  Major General Kenneth Minimah as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu as Chief of Air Staff.