A routine screening of ambassadorial nominees by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs turned into a dramatic spectacle on Thursday as two influential senators, Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), engaged in a fiery confrontation over the screening process for Ambassador-designate Reno Omokri.
The heated exchange, which temporarily stalled proceedings, centered on a procedural disagreement regarding the traditional privilege of asking a nominee to “take a bow and go,” a practice that waives rigorous questioning.
The tension ignited after Senator Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, moved a motion that Mr. Omokri, a former presidential aide, alongside other nominees, be allowed to take a bow. Ndume vouched for Omokri’s character and pushed for an expedited clearance.
However, Senator Oshiomhole objected to the immediate adoption of the motion, insisting he must first comment on the public controversy surrounding Omokri’s nomination. Ndume, arguing parliamentary rules must be followed, attempted to stop Oshiomhole from speaking until the motion was properly seconded.
The refusal to yield quickly escalated the debate from procedure to personal attacks.
“You Know Nothing, you can’t exercise the power you don’t have, I cannot be intimidated by people who go here and there,” Senator Oshiomhole reportedly declared, raising his voice and challenging Ndume’s authority to silence him. Oshiomhole further asserted his experience, stating, “When I talk, those who have not been governors should listen.”
Senator Ndume, equally incensed by the former Edo State governor’s posture, retorted with a personal jab, stating that Oshiomhole had “never dreamed of being a senator” when he first entered the chamber, and at one point, reportedly branded him a “tout.”
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Chairman of the Committee, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), repeatedly intervened to restore calm, struggling to bring the two lawmakers to order.
Despite the row, which lasted several minutes and drew significant public attention, Omokri, who sat stiffly through the exchange, eventually benefited from the “bow and go” privilege after the motion was finally seconded by another senator.
The confrontation, which highlighted the underlying political tensions within the ruling party over President Bola Tinubu’s nominees, ultimately did not derail the confirmation process.
Reports emerging shortly after the session confirm that the Nigerian Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has officially approved and cleared Ambassador-designate Reno Omokri, alongside other high-profile nominees screened on Thursday. His name will now be forwarded to the entire Senate for final confirmation at plenary.
You can also Watch the clip of the altercation here: X.com video link
