On Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio “cautioned a ministerial nominee, Kingsley Udeh (SAN), against responding to any questions relating to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about Nigeria.”
Udeh, who was nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to replace Uche Nnaji (the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology who resigned last month amid controversy over his academic qualifications), appeared before the Senate for screening.
Nnaji, the only cabinet member from Enugu State, had stepped down following “mounting public pressure and calls for his replacement.”
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During the screening, after Akpabio invited Udeh to introduce himself, the Senate President immediately gave the instruction: “The only question I will urge you to ignore is commenting on Trump.”
Following a brief session, the Senate President moved directly to Udeh’s confirmation, asking: “Is it the will of the Senate that the nominee, being versatile and not responding to questions on Trump, should take a bow?”
After putting the question to a voice vote, Akpabio said, “The ‘Ayes’ have it,” which marked the Senate confirmation of the nominee as minister.
Trump had recently accused Nigerian authorities of turning a blind eye to what he described as “systematic persecution” and “genocide” against Christians, comments that “sparked controversy and divided opinion among Nigerian lawmakers earlier in the week.”
When the matter came up for discussion during Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio had “diplomatically declined to take a position,” asking rhetorically, “Who am I to reply Trump?”
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