Jonathan nominates Obanikoro for ministerial position

President Goodluck Jonathan has sent the list of seven ministerial nominees to the National Assembly for approval.The Nigerian Television Authority confirmed this on its Twitter handle @NTANewsNow on Friday.Saturday PUNCHlearnt that former Minister of State Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, who resigned his position in October 2014 to pursue a governorship ambition in Lagos State which he lost to Jimi Agbajamade the list.Kenneth Kobani from Rivers State and Senator Patricia Akwashiki from Nasarawa State were also said to be among the nominees.However, when one of our correspondents contacted the Senate, it said it had yet to receive the list of new ministerial nominees which according to breaking news monitored on theNTAand the African Independent Television, was sent to the upper chamber by President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday.A civil servant, who works in the senate president’s office told our correspondent that the list had not been brought in as of 3:30pm when the office closed officially on Friday.The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to journalists, said, “We have just closed in the office now and we did not receive any correspondence to that effect.”Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the senate president, Mr. Paul Mumeh, when contacted, said he was not aware of the list.Mumeh said, “Honestly, I am not aware that the list had been sent to the Senate President’s office.”A principal officer of the Senate, who also pleaded anonymity, said, “I am not aware of any list like that. But you know we are still on break.”Meanwhile, it is not likely that the Senate would take any action on the list until February 17, after the presidential election, when the senators are expected to resume from the general election’s break.