By John Alechenu, Abuja
Published: Tuesday, 17 Jul 2007

Ndoma-Egba said this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Abuja. He was reacting to public criticisms over the handling of the exercise. He said, ”The issue of who becomes Minister should not be left for the Senate alone. The public can help us by being more specific on the type of question they want asked.

”All Nigerians should have interest in who becomes minister. It is because we want the public to be part of it, that is why we are televising it live at great cost to the Senate.”

On the controversy surrounding the issue of ”taking a bow”, the DSP said Nigerians needed to understand that the Senate was first a political arena.

He explained that parliamentary practice the world over recognises the rights and privileges often accorded former members of parliament. He said it was normal for ex-parliamentarians to be asked to take a bow and leave when they appear before the Senate for confirmation.

Ndoma-Egba said, ”Among those the Senate has so far screened, only four have had the privilege of taking a bow. Three of them were former parliamentarians while only one was not. There is nothing like praise singing, are you saying we should not recognise someone who has achieved?”

In a related development, the ministerial nominee from Adamawa State, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, has said that he was nominated by Governor Murtala Nyako, and not by senator Jibril Aminu as reported in the media.

Hong said this when he was fielding questiions from newsmen in Yola, on Monday.

Hong, who was reacting to media reports that his name was not on the ministerial list Nyako submitted to President Umaru Yar‘Adua, disclosed that his name was first on the list, followed by Gen. Muhammed Buba Marwa (rtd) and Comrade Pascal Bafyau.

”The governor submitted three names to Mr. President for selection and I believe I was selected by the president based on my credentials and not what some people want the public to believe”, he stated.

However, the Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Monday said President Umaru Yar‘Adua‘s choice of Dr. Aliyu Hong, as ministerial nominee from the state was a wise one.

The state chairman of the party, Aliyu Mijinyawa Kugama said this in a statement issued at the Senate on Monday. He disowned news making the rounds that Dr. Aliyu Hong was not among those earlier nominated from the state.