Buhari sends misiterial list after Senate adjourns

Three-month old tensions over the submission of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list are finally coming to rest as Senate President, Olusola Saraki confirmed yesterday evening  that he had received the list.

The list was presented to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki by President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, accompanied by Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

It was delivered to him around 5pm on Wednesday at his office in Abuja, with Saraki, saying that “I can now confirm that I just received the list of ministerial nominees”.

While Saraki left his office immediately after he received the list, declining further comments, his Special Adviser (Media), Yusuph Olaniyonu also refused to disclose the nominees, insisting that it would be officially read by his principal on the floor of the hallowed chamber on Tuesday, October 6, 2015.

“The list is sealed and will remain sealed till Tuesday”, he said.

Also, President Muhammadu Buhari said in his Independence Day speech, a copy of which was seen by our reporter yesterday, that the  “first set of names for ministerial nominees for confirmation has been sent to the Senate.”

Buhari said subsequent “lists will be forwarded in due course” adding that “Impatience is not a virtue. Order is more vital than speed. Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results. And better results for our country is what the APC government for CHANGE is all about.”

President Buhari who had come under scathing criticism for his slowness to appoint a cabinet, had promised that he would do so before the end of September and expectations and tensions came to a crescendo yesterday, which was the last day of September.

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE & Mabel Dimma