Percy Onyeka
A journalist covering the Senate for the Nigerian Tribune newspaper, Alhaji Tijani Yinusa Adeyemi, died of cardiac arrest inside a shuttle bus close to the National Assembly gate on Wednesday.
Adeyemi, who was on his way to the National Assembly confirmed dead by the doctors at the clinic of the legislative complex.
It was gathered that the unfortunate incidence occurred on Wednesday as the Senate confirmed the three new ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu.
They are the new Minister of Youth, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State, the Minister of State for Youth, Mr. Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State and Balarabe Abass Lawal from Kaduna State, who is yet to be assigned portfolio.
Their confirmation of the appointments followed the screening by the Committee of the Whole, chaired by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the Red Chamber.
The confirmation came shortly after Balarabe slumped during his screening by senators.
Balarabe was nominated by the President as replacement to a former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, whose nomination was rejected by the Senate in August.
The ministerial nominee, who was the former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, slumped around 1:50 pm after he introduced himself and highlighted his achievements so far in the private and public sector.
After he slumped, some senators rushed to the podium to save his lives.
It was total confusion in the chamber when the doctors rushed in with their first aid equipment to revive the ministerial nominee who was already put on sit.
Apparently unaware of presence of journalists who stormed the chamber with the doctors, Senators made riot of suggestions on how the nominee could be made stable after being revived.
Specifically, Senator Elisha Abo (APC Jigawa North), who had earlier ran out of the Chamber for emergency solution ran back when he saw the doctors and told them to arrange for an ambulance.
But his suggestion was kicked against by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abdullahi Gumel.
While Bamidele and Gumel kept on asking the doctors whether Balarabe would be made stable without taking him to the hospital, another doctor from the National Assembly clinic ran into the chamber with another first aid equipment but got an unpleasant welcome from the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio who shouted at him to get away from his side.
The offence of the medical doctor was that he out of the emergency situation, wanted to pass through the back of Akpabio to where the ailing ministerial nominee was being attended to.
Being a doctor, he refused to be rattled by Akpabio’s order but later followed the front of the Senate President ‘s seat when prevailed upon by other some of the other senators.
After regaining his strength and composure, the nominee pleaded with the Senate to allow him continue with the session but told go and attend to his health.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio screamed and asked for water and sugar to save the nominee’s life.
He immediately directed that the Senate should go into closed door session.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
