<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a mild drama on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday when the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, switched off the seat microphone attached to Senator Rochas Okorocha (APC Imo West).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawan\u2019s action followed an attempt by Senator Okorocha to question one of the Ministerial nominees, Goodluck Nana Opiah, representing Imo State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Countering Okorocha\u2019s appeal to question the nominee, the Senate President cautioned the Imo West lawmaker against going contrary to the agreement reached by the House during the Closed-Door session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortly after his screening, the nominee, now a Ministerial Designate, told journalists at the National Assembly that there was no \u2018bad blood\u2019 between him and Senator Okorocha, insisting, however, that the former governor meant well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is no bad blood between me and Senator Okorocha. What happened on the floor of the Senate today is an extension of that kind of rumour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can tell you that Senator Rochas Okorocha meant well. I think he wanted to add his voice to my nomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I have heard a series of telephone conversations with him before today. And there is no indication that he was going to oppose my nomination,\u201d Hon. Opiah said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister-designate also said that he would put all arsenals together to make a mark in the Federal Executive Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will do everything using the knowledge I had garnered both in the private and public sectors over the years to add my support to those of my colleagues, members of the Federal Executive Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is to ensure that we move this country forward with a view to finding solutions to the problems facing our dear country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the short period he would have as a minister to make a mark, the nominee said that \u201cIn governance, an hour means forever. And so if I have one week, one month, or one year I think I will put all my arsenals together to leave a mark wherever I will be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opiah further said that as a former member of the House of Representatives, he was happy to be screened by the Senate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel like being back home as a member of the national assembly. I have come to meet the old colleagues, most of them staff of the national assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel overwhelmed by the level of cooperation between the House of Representatives and the Senate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat happened earlier in the Red Chamber is an indication of the serious partnership between the Green and Red chambers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is very commendable. We must do everything within our powers to encourage that partnership to continue to happen. It should be sustained if not deepened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy to be nominated as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thank Mr. President for finding me worthy of this nomination,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opiah was a former Speaker Imo State House of Assembly and former member representing Ohaji\/Egbema, Oguta, Oru West in the Federal House of Representative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is currently the Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Imo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others confirmed by the Senate included Ikoh Ikechukwu; Abia, Umana Umana; Akwa-Ibom, Ekumankama Nkama; Ebonyi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others are Umar El-Yakub; Kano, Ademola Adegoroye; Ondo and Odum Udi (Rivers).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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