Jonathan Nominates Gusau, Obanikoro, Wali, Haruna As Ministers!

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday forwarded the names of 12 new ministerial nominees to the Senate for consideration and confirmation.

Jonathan in a letter read by Senate President David Mark at plenary in Abuja said the nominations were in accordance with Section147 (2) of the Constitution.

The nominees are – ex-National Security Adviser, General Aliu Mohammed Gusau (Zamfara State), Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Hon. Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Abduljelili Oyewale Adesiyan (Osun), Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano), Mrs. Hadjia Jemila Salik (Kano) and Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom).

Others are – Laurencia Labaran Mallam (Kaduna), Dr. Tamuno W. Danagogo (Rivers), Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger), Mr. Boni Haruna (Adamawa) and Dr. Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto).

Also on Tuesday, Jonathan presented the names of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for confirmation.

They are the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu.

Jonathan said: “I write to forward, in compliance with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, the names of the under listed for the kind confirmation of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, and Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

It would be recalled that this is the first time appointments into the military hierarchy are being subjected to Senate’s confirmation.

A Federal High Court had ruled that it was illegal for the Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs to be appointed by the President without Senate’s confirmation.

The case was instituted by Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo.