The golden silence of President Muhammadu Buhari on who
would make it back to his cabinet for second term is becoming an issue within
the ruling All Progressives Congress and governors elected on its platform.
Recall that the president will be officially sworn-in for a
second term on May 29.
It was gathered that President Buhari deliberately kept
members of his kitchen cabinet, close associates and outgoing ministers in
suspense with regard to those who will be in his new team.
The President has opted to go solo in choosing the new set
of ministers. Some members of his inner power circle, popularly called “The
Cabal”, who went to London during the week to see him, were denied access on
the basis of Buhari’s strict instructions. Only a minister (name withheld) was
allowed to meet with the President in London. It was, however, not clear
whether the minister took some documents to him.
At press time, the President had not demanded any
ministerial nomination list from either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or
the governors elected on the platform of the party. Many of the outgoing
ministers have been running to the governors of their states, asking that some
words be put in for their return to the cabinet. The President himself was said
to have expressed surprise at the high number of names dropped in some states
for ministerial slots.
According to findings, the President has adopted a tough
approach to the formation of his cabinet unlike in 2015 when some members of
his kitchen cabinet “hijacked the privilege of assisting him to source for good
hands to impose their friends/allies on him.” It was learnt that all those who
wanted to influence appointments into the cabinet were shut out in London. A
top source said: “It seems Buhari has realised that there are some deadwoods in
his cabinet which he ought to offload. “He is keeping the choice of new
ministers to himself alone.
Even those who should know have been fenced off. “His London
itinerary was not only kept to himself until the last minutes, he did not allow
close associates, strategists and members of his kitchen cabinet to have access
to him in London. “Those who went to London came back empty handed. “Only an
outgoing minister was allowed access to the President. And the minister was
still in London as at 7pm today (yesterday).
“We do not know what informed this sudden change of
attitude, but it seems the President is really determined to live up to his
promise to leave sustainable legacies in his second term by looking for the
right people to serve in his cabinet.”
Investigation also revealed that the President has not
demanded any ministerial nomination list either from the APC or the governors
in the ruling party. A reliable government source said: “You can crosscheck
from the party; Buhari has not asked for any input from APC. “Does he really
need it? Are you saying he does not know what to do unlike 2015? “He did not
request for nominations from the APC governors not to talk of receiving any
list from them.
“Some governors
attempted to gauge his mood but he was noncommittal. He only kept quiet and
allowed the governors to do the talking. “Both the party and the governors have
also respected themselves by not putting pressure on him.” A governor said:
“The truth is that we have not been asked by the President to make
recommendations on ministerial nominees. “We have tried to be careful too
because he does not choose our commissioners for us.
“I can say that we are really in the dark like other
Nigerians. “Ironically, some of the outgoing ministers run to governors to
influence their retention by the President. “We cannot say whether or not the
President will consult us.” Section 147(1-3) directs the President to appoint
at least 36 ministers unless the constitution is amended. The section reads:
“There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation
as may be established by the President.
“Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government
of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is
confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President. “Any appointment under
subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the
provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution: “Provided that in giving
effect to the Provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one
Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”
Meanwhile, the presidency last night dismissed the rumour of
possible extension of the President’s 10-day vacation on health grounds. The
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba
Shehu, simply said: “This story on the President’s return is absolutely
shameful and disgraceful. Disgusting.”
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