The Senate screening of President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees took an unexpected turn on Thursday when Senators Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) clashed openly over the nomination of former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
The confrontation unfolded on the second day of the rigorous assessment of Tinubu’s 65 career and non-career ambassadorial nominees submitted to the Senate last week.
Omokri, seated quietly in Room 301 of the Senate building, watched as two of the Senate’s most outspoken members locked horns in a tense back-and-forth that blended political undertones with procedural arguments.
Trouble began shortly after Oshiomhole started commenting on Omokri’s nomination.
“Look, I cannot be intimidated by people who move from place to place. After all, we see people on television questioning this list,” Oshiomhole declared.
Ndume swiftly interjected, reminding the committee that Senate rules must guide the session.
“The procedure is that if there is a motion on the ground, it must be seconded. If it’s not seconded, it’s dead,” he insisted.
Oshiomhole persisted, raising his voice as he sought to continue.
Senator Oshiomhole
Senator Ndume
“Just allow me to continue what I am saying. Mr Chairman, you have allowed me. Please protect me,” he shouted.
Committee Chairman, Senator Abubakar Bello (APC, Niger North), struggled to calm the increasingly heated atmosphere.
Pointing at Oshiomhole, he said, “Senator Adams, your time is going. Please conclude.”
Regaining composure, Oshiomhole leaned forward and continued.
“All right! Mr Chairman, I think I need to address this in the public interest as it relates to Reno’s nomination. We cannot pretend not to have heard certain things,” he said.
Ndume fired back once more: “There is no such petition before us. The Senate is not a joke!”
Oshiomhole then responded with a political swipe.
“When I speak, those who have not been governors should listen. You need a large heart to forgive. For me, President Bola Tinubu has shown real quality, that just because you criticised or insulted me during the election doesn’t mean I won’t appoint you,” he said.
An irritated Ndume retorted, “You never dreamed of being a senator when I became one.”
Again, the Committee Chairman intervened, attempting to halt the escalating exchange.
“Senator Adams, you have made your point very clear. But there is a motion on the ground,” he said, eventually restoring calm.
Throughout the altercation, Omokri remained rigid in his seat, unsure of how the drama might influence the Senate’s view of his nomination.
Thursday’s incident followed another unsettling moment that occurred barely a day earlier during the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs screening.
On Wednesday, one of Tinubu’s career ambassadorial nominees, Emmanuel Adeyemi, an experienced diplomat who has served in Hong Kong and France, surprised senators when he could not name all three lawmakers from his home state of Ekiti.
Adeyemi confidently mentioned Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Yemi Adaramodu but became stuck when asked to name the third senator.
A member of his team attempted to “Google” the missing name, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, prompting outrage among the lawmakers.
Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South) expressed concern over what he described as a drop in preparedness among high-level nominees.
He received support from Senators Oshiomhole and Seriake Dickson, while Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Bamidele, appealed for leniency.
The Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), who represents Ambassador Adeyemi also defended him on Thursday for being able to remember him (Adaramodu) and the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
Adaramodu reiterated that as a Career Ambassador, Adeyemi has performed creditably in many Nigerian missions, adding that his “competence and patriotism” are not in doubt.
Adeyemi is one of Ekiti’s three nominees, alongside Erelu Angela Adebayo and Olumilua Oluwayemika.
