Goodluck Jonathan Appoints Bode George's Wife Mrs Roli George Into The Board Of The National Population Commission.

The controversial decision by the President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint Mrs. Roli Bode George as a member of the National Population Commission came under fire and was vehemently protested by some senators.

 Mrs. Roli Bode George, 48, is married to Bode George, the chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party who was recently released from prison where he served time after being convicted on charges of corruption.


President Goodluck Jonathan had nominated her for the appointment, a decision, some senators said, went against the wishes of some lawmakers, including Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola who had taken his concerns to the President.

"The governor of Lagos State did right. He went straight to the President. The President acceded. At what point did that nomination change?" Senator Maina Lawan said in a Senate's Plenary Session, speaking out against the appointment.

The Borno State senator was joined by others who firmly believed that the position called for credible persons, and maintained that Roli did not fit the bill.

"It's a very very sensitive commission and we really believe strongly that we want somebody who would be credible and do the right thing for Lagos," Senator Remi Tinubu of the ACN party stated clearly.

Their protests went unheeded as members of the committee were still inclined to honour the appointment.

 "We should not reduce this committee to an issue of partisan, party contest," Senator Uche Chukwumerijie (PDP - Abia State) said in the plenary session.

Despite the firm opposition from some lawmakers, Mrs. Bode George was confirmed by a marginal voice vote.

Visibly enraged by Roli's slim win, Lagos State senators, following the decision, vowed to ensure her removal from the position.

“What has she done for the state?” Sen. Remi Tinubu asked after the confirmation. Tinubu argued that the appointee would beincompetent in helping Lagos State produce better population census results and would be an imposition on the state.

“We will see how it goes,” she added.

The committee,however,explained that the petitions against the confirmation of Mrs Bode-George for the job were all based on her state of origin.

“The committee is satisfied that Mrs Bode-George is from Lagos State, having been married to Bode George, and hence the issue of her state of origin should not be an impediment to her confirmation for the job,”the committee argued.

Roli Bode-George was cleared alongside 21 other appointees.Festus Odimegwuof Imo State is thenewChairman of the National Population Commission.