As part of efforts to fortify his campaign structure ahead of the 2015 general elections, President Goodluck Jonathan may next week bring into his cabinet some former governors and sack more of his serving ministers.
Saturday Sun gathered that some of the former governors who will likely be appointed as ministers include a former governor of Niger State, Abdulkadir Kure and Attahiru Bafarawa, a former governor of Sokoto State. Two of their colleagues from the South East are also being considered for ministerial appointment. One of them, Achike Udenwa of Imo State is expected to return to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) next week, while the second is currently deeply involved in growing his business empire, which had suffered greatly while he was governor of his state between 1999 and 2007.
It was gathered that the latest move, which will be fine-tuned over the weekend by members of the president’s kitchen cabinet, will lead to the dropping of two ministerial nominees already before the Senate for screening and confirmation. They are Asabe Asmau Ahmed who was nominated by Governor Babangida Aliyu as Niger State ministerial nominee and Dr Khaliru Alhassan of Sokoto State.
The Senate had at its session on Thursday suspended the screening of Kano State nominee, Hadjia Jamilla Salik, who is also likely to be replaced by a former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau. The legislators equally failed to screen Asabe Asmau Ahmed of Niger State. Though the ministerial nominee of Sokoto had been screened and awaiting confirmation, it was gathered that his nomination could be withdrawn, while he would be compensated with another appointment to pave way for the nomination of Bafarawa.
Saturday Sun also learnt that the decision to bring in former governors into the federal cabinet “is to strengthen the PDP structure ahead of the presidential race because President Jonathan is banking so much on the relationship with his former governor colleagues to face the challenge being posed by the opposition party, APC.”
A source close to the president further disclosed that “the latest bid to strengthen the party’s structure with both serving and ex-governors also informs the decision by the party’s national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu to bring back all former governors into the PDP fold.”
It was gathered that Mu’azu has devoted so much time and efforts to the task after his recent consultation visit to former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, who urged him, “to bring back into the fold all former governors.”
Of the four former governors who are being considered for ministerial appointments; Kure, Bafarawa and Udenwa are likely to take the job while the fourth from the South East has asked to be allowed to face his business while giving support to the government.
“Feelers from one of the former governors being considered to strengthen the cabinet and the party structure indicate that he is giving so much time to rebuild his business but has promised to give his unfettered support,” another reliable source in the presidency added.
To create space for the new entrants, Saturday Sun learnt that President Jonathan will relieve more of the serving ministers of their jobs next week, if there is no last minute change of the current plan.
Jonathan had on Wednesday at the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting relieved four Ministers of their appointments.
Those dropped include Stella Oduah (Aviation), Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta), Caleb Olubolade (Police Affairs) and Yerima Ngama (State for Finance).
Information Minister Labaran Maku had told journalists after the FEC meeting that the president asked the affected ministers to vacate their positions to allow them pursue political and private business interests they had indicated.
Maku said pending the appointment of substantive ministers, the Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, has been asked to supervise the Ministry of Police Affairs; while the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Sam Ortom, was asked to supervise the aviation ministry.
He added that the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Gayius Isiaku, would supervise the ministry; while the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would have to combine her work with that of Yerima Ngama, who was also dropped. Last month, President Jonathan also sacked and replaced his military chiefs.
BY FEMI BABAFEMI
Details in Saturday Sun
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