Drama as senator asks Alake to recite national anthem during ministerial screening

<p>While lawmakers bickered over the question, Bamidele raised a point of order that the nominee should not respond to the question.</p>, <span>Dele Alake appeared before the Senate on Tuesday, August 2, 2023, for screening. TheCable</span>, <h2>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.</h2>, <p>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.</p>, <p>The request caused an uproar in the hallowed chamber as some of them rejected the question directed at Alake.</p>, <p>The Senate majority leader, Opeyemi Bamidele was among the lawmakers who vehemently shut down the request by Mwadkwon.</p>, <p>While lawmakers bickered over the question, Bamidele raised a point of order that the nominee should not respond to the question.</p>, <p>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.”</p>, <p>He argued that the minority brought politics into the screening exercise "by asking Alake to recite any of the stanzas of the national anthem."</p>, <p>He, therefore, urged the Senate to reject Mwadkwon’s question, saying it is irrelevant to the provision of order 52 sub-section 4.</p>, <p>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.</p>, <p>Mwadkwon had earlier asked Alake a question relating to his role during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.</p>, <p>Alake was Director of Strategic Communication in the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council.</p>, <p>While asking the question, some of his colleagues shouted him down saying the question was partisan.</p>