NCC Board: Senate Revokes Buhari’s Aide, Obono-Obla’s Confirmation
The Senate has revoked its confirmation of Okoi Obono-Obla, nominated by President Muhammaadu Buhari as a member of the Nigerian Communications Commission Governing Board.
Obono-Obla, who is the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, and whose nomination was earlier approved by the Senate on November 17, 2016, found his name missing in the final list transmitted to President Buhari.
The Senate, in a letter dated November 22 and signed by the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, had later listed Obono-Obla’s name as one of those whose nominations were rejected.
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The Presidential aide, in reaction, allegedly went to the media to express his frustration, seeking explanation for the omission of his name.
But the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sabi Abdullahi, however, berated Obono-Obla for going to the media without following due process to state his grievances.
“Who confirmed him? Who said he was confirmed? If he wants to go to the media with his complaint, let him go. I believe that there is a procedure and he is not just an ordinary citizen; he is an SSA to Mr. President right now,” Abdullahi said.
“My thought is: if he is an employee of the executive and there is an issue, he should follow it administratively. But if every single thing that happens administratively is being turned into a media war, I wish him good luck.
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“If there is an issue (between the executive and the legislature), that is why we have the SSAs to the President on National Assembly Matters. Has he followed the administrative procedure and exhausted it? Why must everything being done be turned into a media war? Is that the art of governance?
“We don’t do things without a reason and if we have done something, the right is also reserved like any other person has the right reserved to them with respect to their duties and performance.”
It was gathered that the Senate at a plenary had confirmed:
Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye (Chairman/Ogun/South-West),Senator Ifeanyi Ararume (Non-Executive Commissioner/Imo/South-East), Sunday Dare (Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management/Oyo/South-West), Obono-Obla (Non-Executive Commissioner/Cross River/South-South) and Clement Omeiza Baiye (Non-Executive Commissioner/Kogi/North-Central).
And the nominees rejected were: Aliyu Abubakar (Non-Executive Commissioner/Bauchi/North-East) and Pastor Ezekiel Yissa (Non-Executive Commissioner/Kwara/North-Central).
