President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded the names of four ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Amongst the nominees are former Kano state Governor, Ibrahim Shekerau, the Chairman of the South South zone of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Stephen Oru.
In a letter which was read yesterday on the floor of the Senate by Senate President David Mark, Jonathan requested the upper chamber to screen and confirm Shekarau (Kano), Oru (Delta), Abdu Bulama (Yobe) and Adedayo Adeyeye (Ekiti) for appointments as ministers.
“In accordance with Section 147 (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I have the honour to forward the under-listed ministerial nominees for consideration for Senate confirmation,’ the ltter read.
Shekarau’s nomination is a confirmation of earlier reports by The Nigerian Times, that the former governor, who defected from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in February, was being considered for ministerial appointment.
Before Shekarau’s defection to the PDP, President Jonathan had nominated Hadjia Jamilla Salik and Aminu Wali to fill the Kano State ministerial slots.
Salik was eventually dropped from the list while other nominees such as Gen. Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara), Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos) and Wali were all cleared by the Senate and subsequently appointed as ministers.
Shekarau’s appointment, it is believed, would help check mate the growing influence of Kano state Governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso, one of the five governors who dumped the PDP for the APC, last year.
On his part, Oru a prominent politician in Delta state was elected as the South South zone chairman of the PDP last year. Before that he served as an assistant secretary of the Delta State Chapter of the PDP.
Adedayo Adeyeye is a grassroots politician from Ekiti state. He was also a former Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere socio-political group.
The nominees are expected to appear before the Senate after its two the week recess.