Uproar as Senate clears Bode George's wife for agency job SENATE President David Mark has warned the newly confirmed members of the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to live up to expectations or face similar faith as their predecessors, who were sent away recently. Also, the Senate had a rowdy session following the clearing of Mrs. Roli Bode-George as Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC) for Lagos State. The Senate had gone against the decision of their colleagues from Lagos to reject the nomination of the candidate as a true representative of the state. This followed the report submitted by the Senate Committee on National Identity Card and National Population headed by Senator Maina Lawan (Borno North), on the outcome of the screening of nominees for chairmanship and members of the National Population Commission. Senator Gbenga Ashafa of Lagos East, who championed the rejection bid, alleged that Governor Babatunde Fashola had earlier forwarded a different nominee for the state, to President Goodluck Jonathan. He urged the Senate to quash the nomination of Mrs. Bode-Geroge on the ground that her nomination fell short of due process in line with the convention, norms and practices of the Senate. His request, which was the unanimous decision of Lagos State Senators, fell on deaf ears as other colleagues failed to agree with him. Mark, who described the former NDDC board as a failure, read riot act for new members and urged them to desist from pursuing personal interest and serve with sincerity of purpose.He added that the former board abused the privilege given to them to serve on the board by pursing personal interest, which led to the dissolution of the board. The new board comprises Dr. Tarlilah Tebepah (chairman); Dr. Christian Azubuike Obo (managing director); Lambart E. John Konboye (executive director, finance and Admin); and, Engr. Edikan Eshett Eshett (executive director, Project). Others members are Engr. Imaobong Johnson, Mr. Edigirisi Paul Orubo, Mr. Dominic Aqua Edem Esq, Chief Solomon Ogba, Prof. Ibitamuno Aminigo, Tunde Ogbeha, Senator Garba Lado, Rima Shawulu Kwewum, Barr Aloysius C Nwagboso, Mr. Omagbemi Oladele and Joe Jakpa. They are to serve out the remaining tenure of members of the former board that was recently dissolved by President Goodluck Jonathan. Meanwhile, the screening of Imo and Edo states' representatives are still on. The Chairman of the Committee, Senator James Manager of Delta South, said petitions were received from the two states against their nominees. The nominees for the NPC are Chief Festus Odimegwu (Imo, chairman), David Alakwaya Garnuwa, (Adamawa), Moses Ekpo, (Akwa Ibom), Alhaji Mohammadu Hamma, (Borno), Idi Baba Yakubu (Cross River) and Dr. Tunde Lakoju, (Edo State). They also include Bala Mohammed Magaji, (Gombe), Nwaogwu O. Emmanuel (Imo), Mohammed Surajo Marshal (Kano), Mahammed Aikoye Akubo (Kogi) and Alhaji Abubakar Ndakene, (Kwara State). Others are Roli George, (Lagos), Alhaji Zakari Umaru (Nasarawa), Chief Lere Oyenmi (Osun), Dr. Oluremi Akinbobola Akogun (Ondo), Hon. (Mrs) Cecelia Arsun Dapoet, (Plateau), Dr. Donald Charles Wokoma (Rivers), Senator Bello Jibri Gada (Sokoto), Sunday Zik (Taraba), Prof. Moore Simeon Chika (Anambra), Dr. Festus S.A. Ozor (Enugu), Mrs. Seyi Aderinokun Olusanya (Ogun) and Chris Onyejekwe Okereke (Ebonyi State). The nomination of Sir Nwakanma Chimaobi representing Abia State, was rejected. Jonathan also forwarded the name of Prof. Ben Igwe to the Senate for confirmation as the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission. Other members of the Commission are Dr. Chidi Anslem Odinkalu, Sully Abu, Eugenia Abu, Kayode Komolafe, Dave Obidi Ezeigwe, Ranti Bosede Daudu, Saadatu Mahdi and Jones Osim. Others are Olawale Fapohunda, Olufunmilayo Falana and Cynthia Ene Olofu Ogbe. There were also nominees of Nigeria Labour Congress, ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs and Interior.
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