Appointment
Ministerial nominee, Bosun Tijjani appologises to senators for calling them ‘morons’
***Akpabio accepts Appology on behalf of the Senate
The senate on Saturday continued the screening of the remaining 7 ministerial nominees when they encountered Dr. Bosun Tijjani, who in a Tweet in 2021, referred to them as “morons”.
Earlier in July 2019 Tijjani had tweeted describing Nigeria as a “bloody expensive tag- allegedly portraying the country in bad light.
The Senators who were appalled by the Tweet demanded explanation from Tijjani who incidentally is also a British nationality.
At that point, the nominee from Ogun State who was downcast was at the mercy of the lawmakers.
When the floor was finally yielded for Tijjani to defend himself, he explained that the Tweet in question was taken out of context adding that it did not reflect what he stands for and his love for his country Nigeria.
He said it was a tweet in the heat of anger over how he was shabbily treated as a Nigerian citizen at the Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom
But Tijjani’s respite was momentary as the Senate Minority Leader, had dug up the Tweet where he called the lawmakers “morons”. By this time, most of the sympathy for Tijjani had evaporated – with more senators raising their hands in the background to ask more questions
However, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele’s intervention, asking the Senate to allow Tijjani apologize for his misguided youthful exuberance saved the day
With a Sober mood Tijjani tendered an unreserved apology.
“As a Yoruba boy that grew up in Lagos and Abeokuta, so I do understand that we are not meant to disrespect our elders. That was not the training we were given.
My father won’t be proud of me for all these allegations but what he will be proud of as well is the passion that led me those mistakes.
“I apologise to everyone in this hall, including everyone anywhere in Nigeria that may have been offended by everything I’ve said.
“I ask that you please, in the process of accepting my apologies that you look at the undertone of everything I’ve said. I didn’t say it to spite, I said it out of frustration. So, please accept my sincere apologies.
“Distinguished Senators, please accept my apologies for going too far in my explanation, I’m absolutely sorry for everything I’ve said”.
The Senate President Godswill Akpabio while absolving the nominee said,
“Senators, we are all fathers, our children do err and we can not throw away the baby with the bath water, we recognise his intellect, contributions, we thank the President for being a forgiving father despite all these tweets.
“On behalf of the Senate, I want to accept your apology. Keep up the good work of creating opportunities for young people to grow so that they will not be having the kind of anger that made you to make all those tweets”.
The Senate has endorsed the nomination of Omolola Oloworaran as the substantive Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).
President Bola Tinubu had nominated Oloworaran for the position and sought Senate approval through a formal request.
Her confirmation followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, presented during Thursday’s plenary session.
The committee’s chairman, Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North), stated that Oloworaran met all legal and professional requirements as outlined in the Pension Reform Act 2014. He emphasized that she fulfilled the criteria stipulated under sections 19(2), (5), (6), and 26 of the Act, qualifying her for the role.
“The nominee has demonstrated competence and meets the legal prerequisites for this position. The committee finds her to be a fit and proper person for appointment as Director-General of PENCOM,” Senator Fasuyi said.
During the session, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin put the committee’s recommendation to a voice vote, which received overwhelming support from the senators.
Oloworaran’s confirmation ensures continued leadership at PENCOM, an agency critical to Nigeria’s pension administration and reform initiatives.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced the appointment of Hon. Gani Audu as Chief of Staff, with the appointment taking immediate effect.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Fred Itua, made the disclosure through a press Statement on Thursday.
According to the statement the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Umar Ikhilor, who made the announcement described Audu’s new role as integral to advancing Governor Okpebholo’s reform agenda for the state.
The statement reads: “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public, particularly the good people of Edo State, that His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, has approved the appointment of Hon. Gani Audu as his Chief of Staff. The appointment takes immediate effect.”
Hon. Audu, born on August 18, 1969, brings a rich background in governance and administration to his new role. A graduate of Auchi Polytechnic with an HND (1994), he went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from Benson Idahosa University (2011) and an M.Sc. in Intelligence and Global Security from Baze University, Abuja (2024).
Audu’s political experience spans nearly two decades. He served as Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council from 2004 to 2010, represented Etsako West Constituency 1 in the Edo State House of Assembly from 2015 to 2023, and was the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in the 2020 Edo State elections.
This strategic appointment is expected to bolster the governor’s administrative team and support his vision of transformative governance in Edo State.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.
In a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), on Wednesday, President Tinubu expressed his enthusiasm about strengthening Nigeria-U.S. relations amidst the complex global challenges and opportunities.
Trump, who claimed victory on Wednesday, pledged to “heal” the country as he was on the brink of defeating Kamala Harris in a remarkable White House comeback.
President Tinubu praised Trump’s victory, emphasizing that it reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership. He also commended the American people’s commitment to democracy.
Looking ahead, President Tinubu expressed confidence that Trump’s experience as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021 would foster beneficial and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between the U.S. and Africa. He expressed hope that this new era under President Trump would promote peace, economic cooperation, and address global challenges.
Acknowledging the significant influence of the United States in shaping global events, President Tinubu believes that Trump’s leadership will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.
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