Oshiomhole, Ndume clash during Reno Omokri’s ambassadorial screening

Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, and Ali Ndume, the Borno south lawmaker, engaged in a heated exchange on Thursday during the screening of Reno Omokri, an ambassadorial nominee. 

The drama started after Ndume cautioned Oshiomhole for attempting to speak when a motion on the floor had not been seconded.

“The procedure is that there is a motion on ground and it should be seconded. If it is not seconded, it is dead,” Ndume, a former senate leader, said.

Oshiomhole countered, noting the need to speak in the public interest regarding Omokri.

“Mr Chairman, I think I needed to speak on this in the public interest. In particular reference to the nominee, Reno, because we cannot pretend we have not heard stories,” he said.

Ndume responded, “You can’t work on stories; there is no petition before the committee. The senate is not a joke.”

Oshiomhole later praised President Bola Tinubu, describing him as a leader guided by pragmatism rather than sentiment.

The former Edo state governor also referred to past criticisms of Omokri directed at the president.

“Tinubu is a pragmatist, he is not detained by old feelings, doubts, suspicion about anyone until you have the opportunity to so perform until you hand over to him the steering of a vehicle,” Oshiomhole said.

“This young man (Omokri) has shown that where he sees a compelling evidence, in the interest of the Nigerian nation, he will not be ashamed to say that ‘I was wrong in my assumption; from what I have seen, this man (Tinubu) is working and he deserves the support of all those who want progressive governance’.”

Oshiomhole also said the president had demonstrated “the minimum requirement of leadership”, and claimed that his own experience as a former governor placed him in a position to speak with authority.

Ndume interjected, saying, “Governors come to senate. After being governors, you struggle to come to senate”.

Oshiomhole insisted that Tinubu had shown a “rare quality”, adding that “the fact that you criticise me during the election, the president should be commended for his large heart. He has shown he is the president of all Nigerians”.

Sani Bello, chairman of the committee, called the senators to order and asked if they had any objections to Omokri’s nomination. Both lawmakers said they had none.

Omokri was later asked to take a bow and go.

The senate committee on foreign affairs had earlier commenced the screening of non-ambassadorial nominees sent by Tinubu.