Akpabio Constitutes Senate Committees; Again Orji Kalu, Osita Izunaso Missing From Headship

By Gideon Njoku

Names of, at least three prominent ranking  Senators from the South-east were conspicuously missing in the list of Senate Special Committee Chairmen and  Deputies announced by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday.

Prominent among the appointees are Senator Solomon Adeola who was appointed Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senator Ali Ndume as his Vice Chairman in expectation of, perhaps, a receipt of a Supplementary Application Bill.

Surprisingly, the name of the  immediate past Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, as well as ranking Senators from the South-east were missing on the list. Aside from Kalu, the names of Senators Osita Izunaso and Ezenwa Onyewuchi were also missing on the Chairmanship and Deputy list.

The Senate Selection Committee was mainly made up of Presiding and Principal Officers of the Senate.

Those on the list include Senators Godswill Akpabio, Barau Jibrin, Opeyemi Bamidele, Ali Ndume, Dave Umahi and Lola Ashiru.

They also include Senators Simon Mwadkwon, Oyewumi Olarere, Darlington Nwokeocha and Rufai Hanga.

The Senate President also named Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the other Special Committees of the Senate.

Senator Titus Zam was named as the Chairman Senate Committee on Rules and Business. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele is his Vice Chairman, while Senator Sunday Karimi is the Chairman, Committee on Senate Services with Senator Williams Jonah as Vice Chairman.

Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has Senator Okechukwu Ezea as Chairman and Khalid Mustapha as Vice chairman.

There are, also, Senator Ahmed Wadada as Chairman  Senate Committee in Public Accounts and Senator Onyeka Peter Nwebonyi as Vice chairman.

Senator Shehu Umar is the Chairman Committee on National Security and Intelligence with Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong as Vice Chairman.

The Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance has Senator Garba Musa Maidoki as its chairman and Senator Ede Dafinone as Vice Chairman.

The Committee on Media and Public Affairs is manned by  Senator Adaramodu Adeyemi Raphael as Chairman while Senator Salisu Shuaibu Afolabi is Vice Chairman.