A ministerial nominee from Kano, Maryam Shetty was at the National Assembly Complex on Friday for screening when President Bola Tinubu sent another name to replace her.
On Wednesday, Tinubu added 19 names, including Shetty, to the list of ministerial nominees sent to the senate for screening — six days after forwarding the first 28 names.
Shetty’s nomination was greeted with mixed reactions as some described her as a “Tik Tok influencer”, while others faulted her “unimpressive” professional experience as a physiotherapist.
Unfazed by the criticisms, Shetty arrived at the upper legislative chamber in a wine-coloured headgear and black burqa.
But the Kano-born politician and her supporters were shocked when they were told at the gate of the senate that her name had been replaced with that of Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, another nominee from the state.
Reacting to the development, Shetty appreciated the president for his decision and congratulated Bunkure on her nomination.
“I was just informed now at today’s plenary session that President Bola Ahmad Tinubu has withdrawn my ministerial nomination and replaced me with Mairiga Mahmud,” she wrote on Twitter.
I’m grateful and thankful for any decision from you my president!
“I felicitate with Mariya Mairiga Mahmud. I thank the leader of our party Abdullahi Ganduje for his fatherly disposition and democratic stance that sets the stage for a free and transparent contestation devoid of institutional bias, favouritism, or imposition of any kind.”