Jonathan adds Turai's name to ministerial list (By Tolu Ogunlesi)

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan took Nigerians by surprise Wednesday with his last-minute nomination of President Yar'Adua's wife, Turai, for a ministerial position.

Mrs. Yar'Adua's subsequent confirmation by the Senate instantly took her into the history books, not only as the first ever Nigerian First Lady to simultaneously hold a cabinet-rank position, but also as the only Nigerian ever to be screened for a ministerial position in absentia.

The inclusion of the First Lady's name in the list of nominees took the Senators by surprise, becoming known only after the final batch of nominees had been screened. Moments after Mr. Segun Aganga, the last of the candidates scheduled for Wednesday, took his bow before the Chambers, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Mohammed Abba-Aji, was sighted making his way to the front of the chambers, where he spent minutes conferring with the Senate President.

While the conversation was going on, Mr. Abba-Aji handed over some documents to the Senate President, who broke into a smile when he browsed through them. When the Senate President finally addressed the Chambers, it was to make the surprise announcement - that Acting President Jonathan had, in a bid to increase the quota of women represented in the incoming cabinet, submitted the name of the First Lady for screening.

The Senate Chambers erupted in uproar, which took the Senate President several minutes to calm.

The Senate President then asked Senators to make an exception for the First Lady and screen her in absentia, taking into consideration the fact that her convalescing husband required her presence at his bedside.

There were a few voices of protest, but most of Senators agreed on a symbolic screening. The Senate President proceeded to announce Mrs. Yar'Adua, and then asked her to "bow and go in absentia." This was followed by loud cheering spearheaded by the female Senators present.

With Mrs. Yar'Adua's confirmation, the number of women in the incoming cabinet has risen to six, and the total number of screened nominees to thirty-nine.

The Yar'Adua family is also making history as the only family in recent times to have two nominees in a federal cabinet; as Mrs. Yar'Adua joins Murtala, her husband's nephew, who was screened on Tuesday.

It is being speculated that Mrs. Yar'Adua will be assigned the proposed ‘Power Ministry', which insider sources in the Presidency say should not be confused with the Ministry of Power.

Oh, it's April Fools Day!

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5548575-146/jonathan_adds_turais_name_to_ministerial.csp

so how will she cope?first lady + ministerial post.any OBJ was once a president and @ the same time minister.naija i hail thee

ohhhhhhhhh, it's april fooooooooooolllllllllllllllllll

Yeah!, you really got me there. I was correctly fooled.

@poster, this is d biggest joke of the year!

lol!!

There is nothing big to it, if Turai is qualified, why not? On a second thought I'd say this looks like "Good bye Yar'Adua".

Rich Dad:

so how will she cope?first lady + ministerial post.any OBJ was once a president and @ the same time minister.naija i hail thee

slap1:

There is nothing big to it, if Turai is qualified, why not? On a second thought I'd say this looks like "Good bye Yar'Adua".

So now we know the clowns who don't bother to read articles before commenting.

@Poster
See ya head,

texazzpete:


So now we know the clowns who don't bother to read articles before commenting.

You appear confused. How is my post not related to the OP?

slap1:

You appear confused. How is my post not related to the OP?

Maybe you need to read to the END !

worm:

I have never taken a closer look of this Jonathan. So this is how he looks? Ewww, Another Ugly looking President Nigeria has produced again! Obj copy.

Yeah, because good looks is what we look for in a leader.

slap1:

You appear confused. How is my post not related to the OP?

mehn.you goofed.this one na april fool

~Bluetooth:

mehn.you goofed.this one na april fool

That guy is a gooferian!!! (No insult tendered)

This one really got me . . . .

otukpo:

April fool.

Really got my heart raising faster

This is the best April fool I've seen so far

Lol

And why are all these pranks making the front page.

The moderators must be having a jolly good day.

it is indeed April Fool, I nearly Swallowed the whole Story before i get at the End of the Story, Naija Everything can happen at any time

i must confess that i was fooled. iinityially thought i have gotten a news to tell to people, but when i read further, i saw how great i have been fooled.lolllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

, This of am truth is the best way forward or Nigeria democracy, But be that as it may,emphasis should placed more on efficiency, BRAVO MR PRESIDO

Very sweet april fool story. I wasnt fooled oh!

lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fear don dey catch me o, as i dey read am , any way lets think about this, do you think it would be a good or bad devlopment to have her in the cabinet?,

i must confess that i was fooled. iinitially thought i have gotten a news to tell to people, but when i read further, i saw how great i have been fooled.lolllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@newmaster
DIS JOKE REALY GOT MY ANGRY, UNTIL I SAW I HAD BEEN DECEIVED.

powerpuff:

fear don dey catch me o, as i dey read am , any way lets think about this, do you think it would be a good or bad devlopment to have her in the cabinet?,

Of course it would be a bad development. For what reason should she be in the cabinet? Her expertise or just because she's the first lady?
@post
Good one. You almost got me there.