Oshiomhole, Ndume fight over Omokri’s Ambassadorial nomination screening at the Senate
Oshiomhole, Ndume fight over Omokri’s Ambassadorial nomination screening at the Senate
Tensions ran high in the Senate on Thursday as an exchange broke out between Senators Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) during the screening of former presidential aide Reno Omokri for an ambassadorial post.
The confrontation unfolded on the second day of the Senate’s consideration of President Bola Tinubu’s 65 ambassadorial nominees.
Omokri, seated calmly throughout, watched as both lawmakers clashed over procedure and politics.
Trouble began when Oshiomhole attempted to raise concerns during Omokri’s screening, insisting he had the right to speak.
“Look, I cannot be intimidated by people who go here and there. After all, we see people on television questioning this list,” Oshiomhole said.
Ndume immediately countered, invoking Senate rules.
“The procedure is that if there is a motion on the ground, it should be seconded. If it is not seconded, it’s dead,” he asserted.
Oshiomhole pressed on, his voice rising as he appealed to the Committee Chairman, Senator Abubakar Bello.
“Just allow me to continue (with what I am saying). Mr Chairman, you have allowed me. Please protect me,” he shouted.
Despite repeated attempts by the chairman to de-escalate the situation, Oshiomhole continued, saying: “All right! Mr Chairman, I think I need to speak on this in the public interest, with particular reference to the nomination of Reno. We cannot pretend we have not heard stories.”
Ndume fired back sharply: “There is no such petition before us. The Senate is not a joke!”
The verbal exchange quickly turned personal. Oshiomhole referenced his tenure as a former governor, only for Ndume to retort: “You have never dreamed of being a senator when I became one.”
Chairman Bello eventually stepped in again, citing the unresolved motion and restoring calm.
Omokri, the subject of the dispute, remained composed throughout the altercation.
Thursday’s dispute followed another embarrassing moment for the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs a day earlier.
On Wednesday, ambassadorial nominee Emmanuel Adeyemi struggled to name all three senators from his home state of Ekiti.
While he correctly identified Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Yemi Adaramodu, he was unable to recall the third senator, prompting an aide to attempt a Google search.
The lapse drew criticism, with Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong describing the incident as evidence of inadequate preparation among nominees.
Despite the misstep, Adeyemi’s nomination remains under consideration alongside that of Erelu Angela Adebayo and Olumilua Oluwayemika, also representing Ekiti.
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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, declaring that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be heading the council for a period of 2 years.
The declaration follows the passing of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly, and the signing of the same into law by the governor.
Recall that the lawmakers had amended Clause 5 of Section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law to make the Council chairmanship rotational among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
While inaugurating the Council, Governor Makinde said he had consulted with the trio of the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun, with the three of them reaching a consensus that the chairmanship should start with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)
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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.
National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.
He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.
“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.
“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)
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