The Senate screening of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, nominee for Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, was accompanied by mild drama on Wednesday as lawmakers from her state took turns to praise her beauty and qualifications.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the screening, teasingly urged the senators to focus on her resume rather than beauty to avoid stirring reactions from Nigerians on social media.
Bianca was the third ministerial nominee invited into the Red Chamber to field questions from the lawmakers on her appointment.
After delivering a brief speech about herself and her qualifications, the Senate President asked lawmakers from her state in Anambra to speak on her suitability for the role.
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, in his remarks, described Bianca as intelligent, charismatic, and beautiful.
The lawmaker and former national chairman of Bianca’s party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APC), also spoke on the nominee’s late husband’s legacy and her capacity to unify people.
“When I was coming to work this morning, I assured myself that I would not be overwhelmed by emotions when Her Excellency comes for her screening.
“We have all listened to her. Nobody can fault her qualifications to serve this country in any capacity. She is very intelligent, very charismatic and very beautiful,” he said before Senator Akpabio interjected and asked that the remarks be limited to the nominee’s competence.
“Please restrict your comments to her résumé. You know why I am saying that? Otherwise, we will go on social media and ask ‘Who touched my Bianca?’” he said, throwing the chamber into laughter.
Umeh continued, “Her nomination is very significant. If you listen to her concluding remarks, you will see that she is somebody who has a passion for the peace and well-being of this country.
“I had the privilege of serving as the national chairman of APGA. I served for 10 years and for six years, her husband, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was the leader of the party and I was the national chairman.
“I worked very closely with our icon leader and Ambssasor Bianca Ojukwu who was always around and involved in all the things we do.
“I want to say that Ambassador Bianca Ojuwku possesses the intellect and the ability to be the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (because) she has the experience as an Ambassador,” he said.
Senator Umeh added, “But I said that her nomination is significant because of her husband, the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.”
According to him, Bianca’s nomination as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria “is indicative of the fact that we are trying to put the past behind in this country.”
Speaking after Senator Umeh, Senator Tony Nwoye, representing Anambra North district, commended the nominee as a resilient, intellectual, and eloquent candidate.
“Mr President, this (Bianca) is one of our best….I must commend and thank Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for recognizing this woman for this appointment irrespective of party affiliations.
“It is not only because she was with our late undisputable leader. When he (Ojukwu) was alive, she took care of him. This woman is the epitome of excellence. She’s very cerebral and eloquent. She’s a great lioness and a woman who is a bridge builder.”
After Nwoye’s remarks, the next lawmaker who stood up to speak made similar comments about Bianca’s beauty but the Senate President interjected again, saying: “Restrict yourself to the resume, forget this word ‘beautiful this’…she didn’t put in the CV that she is beautiful.”
Following the lawmakers’ remarks, the Senate approved Bianca’s nomination and asked her to take a bow and go.