A heated confrontation broke out in the Senate on Thursday between Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) and Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) during the screening of Reno Omokri for an ambassadorial appointment.
Omokri appeared before the Senate alongside other ambassadorial nominees when the disagreement erupted.
At one point in the exchange, Oshiomhole remarked:
“I have proudly served as a governor — the head of a subnational government. So when I speak, those who have not been governors should listen.”
Earlier in the day, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs had screened and cleared former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode for an ambassadorial role. Fani-Kayode, who also once served as Minister of Culture, was granted the traditional “bow and go” privilege.
Another nominee, former Interior Minister and retired Army General Abdulrahman Dambazau, also received the same courtesy. It was gathered that former ministers, lawmakers, and ambassadors were simply introduced and then asked to “take a bow and leave,” in keeping with Senate practice.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended the continued use of the privilege, explaining that it is reserved for individuals with long-standing, verifiable records of public service.
He added that anyone who has previously served in the National Assembly automatically qualifies, since their contributions and public track record are already familiar to sitting lawmakers.
Meanwhile, some senators registered their opposition to Reno Omokri’s nomination, accusing him of previously referring to President Bola Tinubu as a “drug baron.”
