*Why We Didn’t Grill Wike — Akpabio
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Former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, says President Bola Tinubu won’t regret nominating him to serve as a minister in his cabinet.
Wike stated this when he appeared before the red chamber for screening on Monday afternoon.
Wike is the only chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the ministerial list of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration sent by the President to the Senate last Thursday.
Wike told the Senators that during his time as governor of the oil-rich Niger Delta state from May 2015 to May 2023, he started and completed many projects to improve the infrastructure of the state and that he invited politicians across party lines to commission them.
“These things can be achieved if you are committed, if you have passion for the job,” Wike told the lawmakers.
He said there are many former governors who desire to be a minister but who don’t have passion the serve Nigerians.
“There are so many people who wants to be ministers for the sake that ‘I was a governor’, for the sake that ‘I was a minister’ but there are those who say, ‘Look, what do I have to offer? Am I committed to this job?’
“I thank Mr President for nominating me. I believe, knowing how hungry Mr President is to solving the problems of Nigeria, we have no choice but to give him that required support. And I can assure you, if I am confirmed in whatever capacity, Mr President will not regret nominating me,” said the ex-Rivers governor who was a minister during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
After his introductory comment, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, attested to Wike’s competence and capacity to deliver in office and subsequently asked him to take a bow as the red chamber cleared him for ministerial role in the Tinubu government.
Following the transmission of Tinubu’s much-awaited ministerial list to the red chamber last Thursday, the Senate commenced the screening of the first batch of the nominees today (Monday).
The screening commenced at the upper chamber on Monday afternoon during plenary upon the arrival of the Senate President.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that 20 of the 28 today ministerial nominees completed their documentation for the screening at the Senate today (Monday).
Those yet to complete their documentation, it was gathered, are currently out of the country.
Meanwhile, Akpabio said Wike was not thoroughly grilled because the Senate had his records, having formerly served as a minister.
He said Wike had appeared before the Senate for screening when he was nominated as a minister by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Having been nominated again for a ministerial position, there is no point asking him much questions,” Akpabio said.
Recall that Wike served as Minister of State for Education under Jonathan.
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