Another drama unfolded at the Senate during the ongoing ministerial screening on Tuesday, August 2, 2023, after Dele Alake was asked to recite the national anthem.

Having presented his resume to the lawmakers, the Senate minority leader, Senator Simon Mwadkwon asked Alake to recite the second stanza of the national anthem.

The request caused an uproar in the hallowed chamber as some of them rejected the question directed at Alake.

The Senate majority leader, Opeyemi Bamidele was among the lawmakers who vehemently shut down the request by Mwadkwon.

While lawmakers bickered over the question, Bamidele raised a point of order that the nominee should not respond to the question.

Quoting order 52 sub-section 4, Bamidele said, “A senator must confine his observation to the subject under discussion and may not introduce irrelevant matter.”

He argued that the minority brought politics into the screening exercise "by asking Alake to recite any of the stanzas of the national anthem."

He, therefore, urged the Senate to reject Mwadkwon’s question, saying it is irrelevant to the provision of order 52 sub-section 4.

In support of Bamidele’s submission, the Senate President, Godswill Akapbio also considered Mwakwon’s question to be out of line, saying every adult Nigerian is expected to know the national anthem.

Mwadkwon had earlier asked Alake a question relating to his role during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.

Alake was Director of Strategic Communication in the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council.

While asking the question, some of his colleagues shouted him down saying the question was partisan.

On social media regulation:

Dele Alake: "The first thing I'll do about social media is strengthen the laws and application of those regulations, and I'll support anything that comes from the Senate to promote that course of action."

Ministerial Screening: Senator Reminds Dele Alake He Called Some Nigerians ‘Wild Dogs’

The Minority leader also asked Alake why he made the following statements in April this year:

"Anyone who has dared express any view critical of or opposed to that of Mr. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, is immediately set upon by the unwieldy column of wild dogs who have labelled themselves ’Obidients’ and constitute a lawless mob baying for blood on social media!"

However, it was cut short by the Senate President:

"Politics is over, we are here for serious business."

In support of Bamidele’s submission, the Senate President, Godswill Akapbio also considered Mwakwon’s question to be out of line, saying every adult Nigerian is expected to know the national anthem.

Nemere2020:

https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/senator-asks-dele-alake-to-recite-national-anthem-ministerial-screening/wk22dzh?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=pulsenigeria247-profile


https://twitter.com/PulseNigeria247/status/1686737093513338880?t=xe_45CaMKvh1CNhs_ifVzA&s=19


https://thewhistler.ng/ministerial-screening-senator-reminds-dele-alake-he-called-some-nigerians-wild-dogs/

Okortor:
Please help, my side chic is insisting I send my wife and kids abroad so she can move in. What do u do please?

The pressure is beyond me at this point.

seunmsg:


Good one from Akpabio and Opeyemi Bamidele for shutting down the idiotic and irrelevant question asked by the PDP Senator.

Nigerians want them to ask the nominees critical questions bothering on their capacity to serve and the ideas they are bringing to the Federal executive council and not to be singing an anthem that will be played publicly anytime there is a need for it.