A dramatic incident unfolded during the Senate screening of ministerial nominees as Balarabe Abbas Lawal collapsed on Wednesday. The nominee, visibly exhausted during the interrogation, abruptly passed out, prompting a swift and concerned response from senators on the floor.
Senators quickly came to Lawal’s aid, and Senate President Godswil Akpabio called for water and sugar to revive the ministerial nominee. In the tense moment, Akpabio also requested medical assistance, urging someone to call Dr. Wale.
“Water, water! Can you give him sugar and water? Can someone bring water and sugar? Please, call Dr. Wale!” Akpabio exclaimed.
In the midst of the emergency, Akpabio instructed cameramen to leave the chamber as senators worked to save the collapsed nominee. The quick response and efforts of the senators averted a potential crisis.
As of the time of the report, Balarabe Abbas Lawal had been taken to the hospital, and his condition remained unknown. The Senate screening continued with other nominees, including Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State.
The incident highlights the significance of emergency preparedness in such public events and underscores the unpredictable nature of health issues, even in formal proceedings.
