Ministerial list: Women's group demand Okotete’s total ban, write Remi Tinubu

By Tunde Opalana

More trouble has come the way of ministerial nominee, Delta State, Stella Okotete, whom the Senate failed to confirm as a women Civic group , Consortium of South-South Amazons for Nigeria has written to the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Remi Tinubu demanding a final expungement of the name of Stella from the Presidential list.

According to the letter jointly signed by the group’s coordinator Hon. Ossai Felicia Jaita and Secretary General, Arc. Osaretin K. Buraimo returning her name to the Senate for confirmation would be an embarrassment to the nation due to the avalanche of her indictments in presenting false records and her breach of Code of Conduct for public officers which led to her sack recommendation by the 8th Senate.

The group also condemned what it described as Okotete’s unbecoming manner of casting aspersions at some Elders of Delta State in which she accused of being behind her predicament.

While asking the First Lady ,Remi Tinubu to prevail on her husband, President Tinubu not to replace Okotete, the group also described the suspended nominee’s moral character as questionable which they said will set a bad example for young women in the society.

The group while reacting to an article titled ” Who is afraid of Stella Okotete”? Asked the suspended nominee to accept her fate after she was suspended based on a series of petitions laid against her bothering on “certificate forgery, breach of Code of Conduct, non-declaration of assets and operating of companies while in active service amongst other allegations.

The letter read in parts; “A Female Ministerial nominee,Stella Okotete from Delta State has resulted in attacking revered Personalities from our dear State, ever since her nomination was suspended by the Senate.

“We refer to an article sponsored by her titled “Who is afraid of Stella Okotete?” In which she tried to defend the series of facts upon which her Ministerial nomination was disqualified.

“Facts are sacred but opinions are free. Rather than lay false accusations on prominent leaders of our state as being the ones behind her plight, she should rather face the consequences of her actions.

“The fact remains that the reasons for which she was disqualified remains valid and the public cannot be cajoled by the emotional blackmail. The report of the Senate which recommended her sack from the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM is there for all to see, while her academic records still remain questionable in addition to the series of unanswered corruption allegations.

“Till date staff of the NEXIM bank are yet to recover from the mental and psychological trauma which she made them pass through when she held say as the Bank’s Executive Director.

“The impunity in the write up used to address the facts raised against her which led to her disqualification have left much to be desired. If we refer to the comments of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio during her failed Ministerial screening at the Senate where he Jokingly said that “Stella should be allowed to go and lead the young girls in order to produce more of her likes” and we are however compelled to ask that what kind of Mentees should be produced by Stella?

“Your Excellency should prevail on our dear President to prevent such a character from attaining such High esteemed office. We want our young girls to Breathe we don’t want such mentorship for our women and young girls. We have daughters, Wives, Sisters and it will be disappointment if such a Person represents Delta State at the National Level.

“We appeal to you to step in and save this Nation and your administration from avoidable mockery and embarrassment.”