“Take a bow and go,” not confirmation, says Akpabio as Wike, others screened

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has said that telling ministerial nominees to take a bow and go during screening did not mean they were confirmed by the upper legislative chamber. However, there is no precedent to show anyone was ever rejected after this 24 years old tradition that has often drawn the ire of many Nigerians.

Everyday.ng reports that since 1999, when nominees are told to ‘take a bow and go’, they were automatically confirmed, more so if they had been lawmakers.

But Monday, one of those told to ‘take a bow and go’  after answering a few questions was immediate past governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike.

He told the Senate that during his time as Governor for eight years, he started and completed many projects to improve the infrastructural status of the State.

He boasted that he invited politicians from across party lines, including the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to commission projects in Rivers, adding that President Tinubu won’t regret nominating him to serve as a minister in his cabinet.

“As a former Governor, it is on record in this country; everyone will attest to the fact that I changed the landscape of Port Harcourt. It is on record that in four years, I constructed 12 flyovers, not by any other contractors, but by Julius Berger Nigeria Limited.

“There is nothing like magic. What is important is the passion, commitment and love you have for your people. In my four years second tenure, I never slept outside of my State. I made sure I was in my State to take up the challenges of my people.

“Due to my performance, I was given a hero’s welcome by my people. They escorted me home, where women laid their wrappers on the ground and they said welcome our son, you have done very well.

“These things can only be achieved if you are committed and if you have passion for the job. There are so many people who want to be Governors, who want to be Ministers just for the sake that they are Governors, they are Ministers.

“I thank Mr Presient for nominating me. I believe, knowing how hungry Mr President is to solve the problems of Nigeria, we have no choice but to give him that required support. I can assure you, if I am confirmed, in whatever capacity, Mr President will never regret nominating me,”

Before he was asked to take a bow and go, Senate President Akpabio earlier charged Wike to operate an open-door policy as Minister, while charging the former Rivers State Governor to allow room for proper oversight, necessary for accountability.

“Even as he was speaking, you could see the passion and the love he has for the country. But what the public worry about is that we play more politics with our voices and then when we get into office we close the doors against Nigerians,” Akpabio said.

The Senate on the same day commenced the screening of the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu, interviewing 14 of them. 

The screening commenced at the upper chamber during a plenary session that started around 12:41 pm upon the arrival of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Among those screened were former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Abubakar Kyari from Borno State; Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia State); Bello Muhammad (Sokoto State); Sani Abubakar Danladi (Taraba State); and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa State).

Others are Joseph Utsev (Benue State), Olubunmi Tunji Ojo (Ondo State), Betta Edu (Cross River State), Uju Kennedy Ohaneye (Anambra State), Abubakar Momoh (Edo State), John Enoh (Cross River State), Iman Suleiman Ibrahim (Nasarawa State), and Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Bauchi State).Nominees who are former senators were asked to take a bow and excused while several others were scrutinised by the senators.

After senators were screened, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion for the Senate to revert to plenary to report progress. The Senate Minority Leader, Darlington Nwokocha, seconded the motion and it was carried.

Afterwards, the Senate President adjourned the plenary till Tuesday.

▪︎ Additional report by Channels Television