By Emmanuel Enebeli
ABUJA/Nigeria: In a surprising turn of events, President Bola Tinubu appears to have changed his approach to ministerial appointments, opting for technocrats and professionals over former governors in his government. This revelation has emerged as the push for ministerial appointments gains momentum.
Vanguard, a reliable source, learned yesterday that the fate of former governors in the cabinet formation remains uncertain as the President seems to be overlooking their potential contributions. According to an insider familiar with the matter, former governors from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are making frantic efforts to secure appointments for their nominees in various government agencies and parastatals.
It is worth recalling that on Monday, President Tinubu dissolved the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies, with the exception of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, stated that the President exercised his “constitutional powers and the public interest” in taking this action.
Following the dissolution of the agencies and parastatals, it has been revealed that former governors are actively lobbying for their proteges to be appointed. However, a confidential source informed Vanguard that the President is actively avoiding these influential APC leaders.
The source, who happens to be a former governor, disclosed that apart from seeking board chairmanship positions for their nominees, the former governors, particularly those from northern regions, are also vying for ministerial positions. The source explained that they believe their contributions to Tinubu’s electoral victory entitle them to such positions.
The situation has reportedly caused a minor crisis within the northern faction of the APC, as these former governors are seen as potential liabilities to President Tinubu’s administration. Their aspirations to become ministers have sparked tension and concerns over their influence and relevance in the political landscape.
As the president’s stance becomes clearer, it remains to be seen how this shift towards technocrats and professionals will shape the composition of Tinubu’s cabinet. The appointments of qualified individuals in key positions could signal a new direction for his administration, with a focus on expertise and competence rather than political connections and affiliations.
Source: Vanguard Nigeria
