There are very strong indications that Stella Okotete, one of the ministerial nominees who was screened by the senate but was not cleared for appointment, may not be left out ‘in the cold’ after all, as Nigerians have been made to believe. Recall that besides Okotete, a former executive director at the Nigeria Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State and Nasir Danladi, a ministerial nominee from Taraba State, were excluded by the senate which approved and confirmed the ministerial nominations of 45 other appointees of President Bola Tinubu after a voice vote.
The Senate claimed it withheld the ministerial confirmation of the trio pending their security clearance. While El Rufai who is currently holidaying in the Middle East and Europe was blocked from becoming Minister by powerful interests with the backing of President Bola Tinubu, the other two waited with bated breath, hoping they would scale through their security clearance. Clearly, Danladi won’t be considered for reasons not unconnected with his alleged debarment in 2019 from contesting or holding political offices over alleged certificate forgery and age falsification.
However, THEWILL has reliably gathered that Okotete who was nominated by the First Lady, Remi Tinubu may likely get a soft landing. If she doesn’t return with a ministerial appointment, she may likely be given a board appointment in a parastatal or government agency. Sources who are familiar with the matter told THEWILL in confidence that the First Lady has gone to work, applying pressure and appealing to her husband to reconsider finding a place for Okotete in his government. Whether the President will buckle under pressure and cave into the First Lady’s demand is another kettle of fish.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
